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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 20.311Madhya 20.313

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.312

শিবঃ শক্তিযুক্তঃ শশ্বৎ ত্রিলিঙ্গো গুণসংবৃতঃ ।

বৈকারিকস্তৈজসশ্চ তামসশ্চেত্যহং ত্রিধা ॥ ৩১২ ॥

śivaḥ śakti-yuktaḥ śaśvat

tri-liṅgo guṇa-saṁvṛtaḥ

vaikārikas taijasaś ca

tāmasaś cety ahaṁ tridhā

Translation

“ ‘The truth about Lord Śiva is that he is always covered with three material coverings — vaikārika, taijasa and tāmasa. Because of these three modes of material nature, he always associates with the external energy and egotism itself.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Śiva Associates With External Energy

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva is described as covered with three material coverings: vaikārika, taijasa and tāmasa.

  2. 2

    Through these three modes of material nature, he always associates with the external energy.

  3. 3

    The verse also describes his association with egotism itself. The purport identifies this teaching as a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 20.312 quotesSB 10.88.3

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.88.3).

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:

He also described the incarnations of God within the material world, incarnations such as the puruṣa-avatāras, manvantara-avatāras, guṇa-avatāras and śaktyāveśa-avatāras. The Lord also discussed the divisions of Kṛṣṇa’s different ages, such as bālya and paugaṇḍa, and the different pastimes of the different ages.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. śivaḥLord Śiva
  2. śakti-yuktaḥassociated with material nature
  3. śaśvateternally
  4. tri-liṅgaḥin three features
  5. guṇa-saṁvṛtaḥcovered by the modes of nature
  6. vaikārikaḥone is called vaikārika
  7. taijasaḥ caanother is called taijasa
  8. tāmasaḥ caas well as tāmasa
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “associates”, “association”

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

What does this verse teach me about Lord Śiva’s relationship with the external energy?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and note the three names given for the material coverings.

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 todayLord Śiva Associates With External 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.

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