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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 20.265Madhya 20.267

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.266

জগৃহে পৌরুষং রূপং ভগবান্মহদাদিভিঃ ।

সম্ভূতং ষোড়শকলমাদৌ লোকসিসৃক্ষয়া ॥ ২৬৬ ॥

jagṛhe pauruṣaṁ rūpaṁ

bhagavān mahad-ādibhiḥ

sambhūtaṁ ṣoḍaśa-kalam

ādau loka-sisṛkṣayā

Translation

“ ‘In the beginning of the creation, the Lord expanded Himself in the form of the puruṣa incarnation, accompanied by all the ingredients of material creation. First He created the sixteen principal energies suitable for creation. This was for the purpose of manifesting the material universes.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Puruṣa Incarnation Prepares Material Creation

  1. 1

    In the beginning of creation, the Lord expanded Himself as the puruṣa incarnation, accompanied by all the ingredients of material creation.

  2. 2

    He first created the sixteen principal energies suitable for creation.

  3. 3

    This was for the purpose of manifesting the material universes.

Key points from the purport
  • For an explanation, refer to Ādi-līlā, chapter five, verse 84.

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 20.266 quotesSB 1.3.1

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.3.1).

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:

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. jagṛheaccepted
  2. pauruṣam rūpamthe form of the puruṣa incarnation
  3. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. mahat-ādibhiḥwith the material energy, etc.
  5. sambhūtamcreated
  6. ṣoḍaśasixteen
  7. kalamelements
  8. ādauin the beginning
  9. lokaof the material worlds
  10. sisṛkṣayāwith a desire for the creation
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What purpose connects the Lord’s expansion and the creation of the sixteen principal energies?

Practice

Read the translation once and identify the stated purpose of these preparations for creation.

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 Puruṣa Incarnation Prepares Material CreationThis 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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