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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 20.294Madhya 20.296

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.295

বিরাট্ ব্যষ্টি-জীবের তেঁহো অন্তর্যামী ।

ক্ষীরোদকশায়ী তেঁহো — পালনকর্তা, স্বামী ॥ ২৯৫ ॥

virāṭ vyaṣṭi-jīvera teṅho antaryāmī

kṣīrodakaśāyī teṅho — pālana-kartā, svāmī

Translation

“Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is the universal form of the Lord and is the Supersoul within every living entity. He is known as Kṣīrodakaśāyī because He is the Lord who lies on the ocean of milk. He is the maintainer and master of the universe.

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 Supersoul Maintains the Universe

  1. 1

    Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu is the universal form of the Lord and the Supersoul within every living entity.

  2. 2

    He is called Kṣīrodakaśāyī because He lies on the ocean of milk.

  3. 3

    He is the maintainer and master of the universe.

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. virāṭthe universal form
  2. vyaṣṭi-jīveraof all other living entities
  3. teṅhoHe
  4. antaryāmīthe Supersoul
  5. kṣīra-udaka-śāyīLord Viṣṇu who lies down on the ocean of milk
  6. teṅhoHe
  7. pālana-kartāthe maintainer
  8. svāmīthe master
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering the Supersoul within every living entity affect how you regard others?

Practice

When you meet someone today, pause to remember that the Supersoul is within that living entity.

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 Supersoul Maintains the UniverseThis 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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