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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 20.146Madhya 20.149

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Madhya 20.147-148

কিং বিধত্তে কিমাচষ্টে কিমনূদ্য বিকল্পয়েৎ ।

ইত্যস্যা হৃদয়ং লোকে নান্যো মদ্বেদ কশ্চন ॥ ১৪৭ ॥

kiṁ vidhatte kim ācaṣṭe

kim anūdya vikalpayet

ity asyā hṛdayaṁ loke

nānyo mad veda kaścana

Translation

“[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] ‘What is the purpose of all Vedic literatures? On whom do they focus? Who is the object of all speculation? Outside of Me no one knows these things. Now you should know that all these activities are aimed at ordaining and setting forth Me. The purpose of the Vedic literatures is to know Me by different speculations, either by indirect understanding or by dictionary understanding. Everyone is speculating about Me. The essence of all Vedic literatures is to distinguish Me from māyā. By considering the illusory energy, one comes to the platform of understanding Me. In this way one becomes free from speculation about the Vedas and comes to Me as the conclusion. Thus one is satisfied.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vedic Study Culminates in Worship

  1. 1

    When Uddhava asked about Vedic speculation, Kṛṣṇa explained the process of understanding Vedic literature. Its purpose is to make Him known, and its essence is to distinguish Him from māyā.

  2. 2

    The Vedas comprise karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa. Analytical study shows a progression from sacrificial activity to speculative knowledge and finally to worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate conclusion. When one reaches this conclusion, one becomes fully satisfied.

Key points from the purport
  • When Uddhava asked Kṛṣṇa about the purpose of Vedic speculation, the Lord informed him of the process of understanding the Vedic literature.
  • One who analytically studies the purpose of the Vedas understands that by karma-kāṇḍa, sacrificial activity, one comes to the conclusion of jñāna-kāṇḍa, speculative knowledge, and that after speculation one comes to the conclusion that worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the ultimate.
  • When one comes to this conclusion, he becomes fully satisfied.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 20.147-148 quotesSB 11.21.42

These two verses are quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.21.42-43).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Sanātana Gosvāmī thereafter satisfied the superintendent of the jail by sweet solicitations and bribery. After giving the jailer seven thousand gold coins, Sanātana Gosvāmī was released.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat
  2. vidhattedirect
  3. kimwhat
  4. ācaṣṭedeclare
  5. kimwhat
  6. anūdyataking as the object
  7. vikalpayetmay conjecture
  8. itithus
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my study lead toward worship rather than remain only speculation?

Practice

After studying today, take a brief moment to worship Kṛṣṇa, remembering that worship is the conclusion described here.

Live this todayVedic Study Culminates in WorshipThis 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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