1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 20.277Madhya 20.279-280

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.278

ইঁহো মহৎস্রষ্টা পুরুষ — ‘মহাবিষ্ণু’ নাম ।

অনন্ত ব্রহ্মাণ্ড তাঁর লোমকূপে ধাম ॥ ২৭৮ ॥

iṅho mahat-sraṣṭā puruṣa — ‘mahā-viṣṇu’ nāma

ananta brahmāṇḍa tāṅra loma-kūpe dhāma

Translation

“The first form of Lord Viṣṇu is called Mahā-Viṣṇu. He is the original creator of the total material energy. The innumerable universes emanate from the pores of His body.

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.

Mahā-Viṣṇu Creates the Total Material Energy

  1. 1

    The first form of Lord Viṣṇu is called Mahā-Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    He is the original creator of the total material energy.

  3. 3

    Innumerable universes emanate from the pores of His body.

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. iṅhoHe
  2. mahat-sraṣṭāthe creator of the mahat-tattva, or total material energy
  3. puruṣathe person
  4. mahā-viṣṇu nāmacalled Lord Mahā-Viṣṇu
  5. anantaunlimited
  6. brahmāṇḍauniverses
  7. tāṅraof His body
  8. loma-kūpewithin the hair holes
  9. dhāmaare situated
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this description help you understand Mahā-Viṣṇu as the original creator?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and recall its three descriptions of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

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 todayMahā-Viṣṇu Creates the Total Material EnergyThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 20.278? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters