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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 20.180Madhya 20.182

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.181

মথুরায় যৈছে গন্ধর্বনৃত্য-দরশনে ।

পুনঃ দ্বারকাতে যৈছে চিত্র-বিলোকনে ॥ ১৮১ ॥

mathurāya yaiche gandharva-nṛtya-daraśane

punaḥ dvārakāte yaiche citra-vilokane

Translation

“One instance of Vāsudeva’s attraction to Kṛṣṇa occurred when Vāsudeva saw the Gandharva dance at Mathurā. Another instance occurred in Dvārakā when Vāsudeva was surprised to see a picture of 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.

Two Instances of Vāsudeva’s Attraction

  1. 1

    The verse gives two instances of Vāsudeva’s attraction to Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    One occurred when Vāsudeva saw the Gandharva dance at Mathurā.

  3. 3

    Another occurred in Dvārakā, where Vāsudeva was surprised to see a picture of Kṛṣṇa.

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:

On the way, Sanātana Gosvāmī met his brother-in-law, Śrīkānta, at Hājipura, and Śrīkānta helped him after he had heard about all Sanātana’s troubles. Thus Sanātana Gosvāmī finally arrived at Vārāṇasī and stood before the door of Candraśekhara.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. mathurāyaat Mathurā
  2. yaichejust as
  3. gandharva-nṛtyathe dance of the Gandharvas
  4. daraśaneby seeing
  5. punaḥagain
  6. dvārakāteat Dvārakā
  7. yaichejust as
  8. citra-vilokaneby seeing a picture of Kṛṣṇa
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What do these two instances help you notice about Vāsudeva’s attraction to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Write down the two places and what Vāsudeva saw in each.

4

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayTwo Instances of Vāsudeva’s AttractionThis 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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