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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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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 20.195Madhya 20.197

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.196

সঙ্কর্ষণের মূর্তি — গোবিন্দ, বিষ্ণু, মধুসূদন ।

এ অন্য গোবিন্দ — নহে ব্রজেন্দ্রনন্দন ॥ ১৯৬ ॥

saṅkarṣaṇera mūrti — govinda, viṣṇu, madhusūdana

e anya govinda — nahe vrajendra-nandana

Translation

“The expansions of Saṅkarṣaṇa are Govinda, Viṣṇu and Madhusūdana. This Govinda is different from the original Govinda, for He is not the son of Mahārāja Nanda.

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.

Saṅkarṣaṇa’s Expansions and the Distinction Between Govindas

  1. 1

    The expansions of Saṅkarṣaṇa are Govinda, Viṣṇu and Madhusūdana.

  2. 2

    This Govinda is different from the original Govinda.

  3. 3

    This Govinda is not the son of Mahārāja Nanda.

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:

While discussing the Absolute Truth, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Lord analyzed Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān, as well as the expansions of the Lord called svayaṁ-rūpa, tad-ekātma and āveśa, which are divided into various branches known as vaibhava and prābhava. Thus the Lord described the many forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. saṅkarṣaṇera mūrtithe expansions of Saṅkarṣaṇa
  2. govindaGovinda
  3. viṣṇuViṣṇu
  4. madhusūdanaMadhusūdana
  5. ethis
  6. anyaanother
  7. govindaGovinda
  8. nahe vrajendra-nandananot the son of Nanda Mahārāja
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “nanda”

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

Why is it helpful to notice the distinction the translation makes between the two Govindas?

Practice

List Saṅkarṣaṇa’s three expansions and add a note that this Govinda is not the son of Mahārāja Nanda.

5

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 todaySaṅkarṣaṇa’s Expansions and the Distinction Between GovindasThis 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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