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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 20.305Madhya 20.307

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.306

যস্যাঙ্ঘ্রিপঙ্কজরজোঽখিললোকপালৈ-

র্মৌল্যুত্তমৈর্ধৃতমুপাসিত-তীর্থতীর্থম্ ।

ব্রহ্মা ভবোঽহমপি যস্য কলাঃ কলায়াঃ

শ্রীশ্চোদ্বহেম চিরমস্য নৃপাসনং ক্ব ॥ ৩০৬ ॥

yasyāṅghri-paṅkaja-rajo ’khila-loka-pālair

mauly-uttamair dhṛtam upāsita-tīrtha-tīrtham

brahmā bhavo ’ham api yasya kalāḥ kalāyāḥ

śrīś codvahema ciram asya nṛpāsanaṁ kva

Translation

“ ‘What is the value of a throne to Lord Kṛṣṇa? The masters of the various planetary systems accept the dust of His lotus feet on their crowned heads. That dust makes the holy places sacred, and even Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lakṣmī and I Myself, who are all portions of His plenary portion, eternally carry that dust on our heads.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet Surpass Royal Honor

  1. 1

    When the Kauravas flattered Baladeva while speaking ill of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Lord Baladeva became angry and spoke this verse.

  2. 2

    A throne has little value for Lord Kṛṣṇa: the masters of planetary systems place the dust of His lotus feet on their crowned heads. That dust makes holy places sacred.

  3. 3

    Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lakṣmī and Baladeva eternally carry that dust on their heads. Baladeva describes them all as portions of Kṛṣṇa’s plenary portion.

Key points from the purport
  • When the Kauravas flattered Baladeva so that He would become their ally and spoke ill of Śrī Kṛṣṇa, Lord Baladeva became angry and spoke this verse.

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 20.306 quotesSB 10.68.37

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.68.37).

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:

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. yasyawhose
  2. aṅghri-paṅkajalotuslike feet
  3. rajaḥthe dust
  4. akhila-lokaof the universal planetary systems
  5. pālaiḥby the masters
  6. mauli-uttamaiḥwith valuable turbans on their heads
  7. dhṛtamaccepted
  8. upāsitaworshiped
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

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

How does the reverence of these exalted personalities deepen your appreciation of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read the translation slowly, pausing at the words about the dust of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

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 todayKṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet Surpass Royal HonorThis 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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