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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 20.194Madhya 20.196

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.195

চক্রাদি-ধারণ-ভেদে নাম-ভেদ সব ।

বাসুদেবের মূর্তি — কেশব, নারায়ণ, মাধব ॥ ১৯৫ ॥

cakrādi-dhāraṇa-bhede nāma-bheda saba

vāsudevera mūrti — keśava, nārāyaṇa, mādhava

Translation

“Out of the catur-vyūha, there are three expansions of each and every form, and They are named differently according to the position of the weapons. The Vāsudeva expansions are Keśava, Nārāyaṇa and Mādhava.

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.

The Three Expansions of Vāsudeva

  1. 1

    Each and every form of the catur-vyūha has three expansions.

  2. 2

    These expansions are named differently according to the position of the weapons.

  3. 3

    The expansions of Vāsudeva are Keśava, Nārāyaṇa and Mādhava.

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:

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. After this, the Lord explained the way of devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. cakra-ādiof the disc and other weapons
  2. dhāraṇaof holding
  3. bhedeby differences
  4. nāmaof names
  5. bhedadifferences
  6. sabaall
  7. vāsudevera mūrtithe expansions of Vāsudeva
  8. keśavaKeśava
  9. nārāyaṇaNārāyaṇa
  10. mādhavaMādhava
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does knowing the basis for Their different names help you study these expansions?

Practice

Write Vāsudeva’s name followed by His three expansions: Keśava, Nārāyaṇa and Mādhava.

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 todayThe Three Expansions of VāsudevaThis 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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