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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
  3. 3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
  4. 4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
  5. 5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
  6. 6Take one thing into your day. Note one point and one practice.
Read the full guide: how to read Caitanya Caritamrta ›
Madhya-līlā · Chapter 20: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth
Madhya 20.119Madhya 20.121

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.120

সাধু-শাস্ত্র-কৃপায় যদি কৃষ্ণোন্মুখ হয় ।

সেই জীব নিস্তরে, মায়া তাহারে ছাড়য় ॥ ১২০ ॥

sādhu-śāstra-kṛpāya yadi kṛṣṇonmukha haya

sei jīva nistare, māyā tāhāre chāḍaya

Translation

“If the conditioned soul becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious by the mercy of saintly persons who voluntarily preach scriptural injunctions and help him to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, the conditioned soul is liberated from the clutches of māyā, who gives him up.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saintly Mercy Awakens Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul has forgotten Kṛṣṇa as his eternal master. Although he thinks he is enjoying the material world, he suffers its threefold miseries.

  2. 2

    Saintly Vaiṣṇava devotees teach Kṛṣṇa consciousness on the basis of Vedic literature. Only by their mercy is the conditioned soul awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    When awakened, he turns from eagerness for material enjoyment to loving service of the Lord. Through devotional service, he becomes detached from material enjoyment and freed from māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • A conditioned soul is one who has forgotten Kṛṣṇa as his eternal master.
  • Saintly persons (sādhus), Vaiṣṇava devotees of the Lord, preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness on the basis of the Vedic literature.
  • It is only by their mercy that the conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Humility and restored identity. A seeker relinquishes status, asks fundamental questions, and receives sambandha knowledge.

The mood of Madhya 20 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 20: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu Instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī in the Science of the Absolute Truth

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The hotel owner knew that Sanātana Gosvāmī and his servant had eight gold coins, and he decided to kill them and take the money. Making plans in this way, the hotel owner received them as honorable guests.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. sādhuof saintly persons
  2. śāstraof scriptures
  3. kṛpāyaby the mercy
  4. yadiif
  5. kṛṣṇa-unmukha hayaone becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious
  6. seithat
  7. jīvaliving entity
  8. nistarebecomes liberated
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “saintly”

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “service”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How willing am I to receive scriptural guidance from saintly devotees?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today reading a saintly Vaiṣṇava devotee’s explanation of devotional service.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todaySaintly Mercy Awakens Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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