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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 20.145Madhya 20.147-148

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.146

মুখ্য-গৌণ-বৃত্তি, কিংবা অন্বয়-ব্যতিরেকে ।

বেদের প্রতিজ্ঞা কেবল কহয়ে কৃষ্ণকে ॥ ১৪৬ ॥

mukhya-gauṇa-vṛtti, kiṁvā anvaya-vyatireke

vedera pratijñā kevala kahaye kṛṣṇake

Translation

“When one accepts the Vedic literature by interpretation or even by dictionary meaning, directly or indirectly the ultimate declaration of Vedic knowledge points to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vedic Knowledge Ultimately Points to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Vedic literature may be approached through interpretation or through dictionary meaning.

  2. 2

    Whether understood directly or indirectly, its ultimate declaration points to Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa remains the conclusion of Vedic knowledge across these approaches.

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:

At this time Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased with him, and thus Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī received knowledge of the Absolute Truth from the Lord Himself. First they discussed the constitutional position of the living entities, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī how the living entity is one of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s energies.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. mukhyachief
  2. gauṇasecondary
  3. vṛttimeaning
  4. kiṁvāor
  5. anvaya-vyatirekedirectly or indirectly
  6. vedera pratijñāultimate declaration of the Vedas
  7. kevalaonly
  8. kahayespeaks
  9. kṛṣṇakeabout Kṛṣṇa
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I keeping Lord Kṛṣṇa in view as the ultimate conclusion of Vedic knowledge?

Practice

Write a brief reminder beside today’s study notes: “Vedic knowledge ultimately points to Lord Kṛṣṇa.”

4

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

3 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 1 more lecture on it
Live this todayVedic Knowledge Ultimately Points to KṛṣṇaThis 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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