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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.276
তবে মহত্তত্ত্ব হৈতে ত্রিবিধ অহঙ্কার ।
যাহা হৈতে দেবতেন্দ্রিয়ভূতের প্রচার ॥ ২৭৬ ॥
tabe mahat-tattva haite trividha ahaṅkāra
yāhā haite devatendriya-bhūtera pracāra
“First the total material energy is manifested, and from this arise the three types of egotism, which are the original sources from which all demigods [controlling deities], senses and material elements expand.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The total material energy manifests first and transforms into three types of egotism: vaikārika, taijasa and tāmasa. Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa is their predominating Deity.
From vaikārika, egotism in goodness, comes the mind, whose predominating Deity is Aniruddha. From taijasa, egotism in passion, come the active and knowledge-acquiring senses, along with intelligence, whose predominating Deity is Lord Pradyumna.
From tāmasa, egotism in ignorance, sound vibration expands. From sound comes the sky, and then the senses beginning with hearing are manifested.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
The purport of CC Madhya 20.276 quotesSB 3.26.21
The mahat-tattva is situated within the heart, or citta, and the predominating Deity of the mahat-tattva is Lord Vāsudeva.
The purport of CC Madhya 20.276 quotesSB 3.26.27
The mahat-tattva is transformed into three divisions: (1) vaikārika, egotism in goodness (sāttvika-ahaṅkāra), from which is manifested the eleventh sense organ, the mind, whose predominating Deity is Aniruddha; (2) taijasa, or egotism in passion (rājasa-ahaṅkāra), from which are manifested the active and knowledge-acquiring senses, along with the intelligence, whose predominating Deity is Lord Pradyumna; and (3) tāmasa, or egotism in…
The purport of CC Madhya 20.276 quotesSB 3.26.29
The mahat-tattva is transformed into three divisions: (1) vaikārika, egotism in goodness (sāttvika-ahaṅkāra), from which is manifested the eleventh sense organ, the mind, whose predominating Deity is Aniruddha; (2) taijasa, or egotism in passion (rājasa-ahaṅkāra), from which are manifested the active and knowledge-acquiring senses, along with the intelligence, whose predominating Deity is Lord Pradyumna; and (3) tāmasa, or egotism in…
The purport of CC Madhya 20.276 quotesSB 3.26.32
From sound vibration, the sky (ākāśa) is manifested, and then the senses, beginning with the sense of hearing, are also manifested.
Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.
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
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
Learn the words of the verse.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
How does tracing the mind and senses to these sources help you understand the verse’s account of material creation?
Make a three-row chart today listing each type of egotism and what arises from it.
His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.
1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 20.276? Get an answer from the verses themselves.