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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 20.315Madhya 20.317

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.316

দীপার্চিরেব হি দশান্তরমভ্যুপেত্য

দীপায়তে বিবৃতহেতুসমানধর্মা ।

যস্তাদৃগেব হি চ বিষ্ণুতয়া বিভাতি

গোবিন্দমাদিপুরুষং তমহং ভজামি ॥ ৩১৬ ॥

dīpārcir eva hi daśāntaram abhyupetya

dīpāyate vivṛta-hetu-samāna-dharmā

yas tādṛg eva hi ca viṣṇutayā vibhāti

govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation

“ ‘When the flame of one candle is expanded to another candle and placed in a different position, it burns separately, and its illumination is as powerful as the original candle’s. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda, expands Himself in different forms as Viṣṇu, who is equally luminous, powerful and opulent. Let me worship that Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Govinda’s Expansions Possess Equal Power

  1. 1

    A candle lit from another candle burns separately, yet its illumination is as powerful as the original candle’s.

  2. 2

    Similarly, Govinda expands Himself in different forms as Viṣṇu. These forms are equally luminous, powerful and opulent.

  3. 3

    The verse concludes with an offering of worship to Govinda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Thus the Lord described the many forms of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He also described the incarnations of God within the material world, incarnations such as the puruṣa-avatāras, manvantara-avatāras, guṇa-avatāras and śaktyāveśa-avatāras.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. dīpa-arciḥthe flame of a lamp
  2. evaas
  3. hicertainly
  4. daśā-antaramanother lamp
  5. abhyupetyaexpanding
  6. dīpāyateilluminates
  7. vivṛta-hetuwith its expanded cause
  8. samāna-dharmāequally powerful
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the candle comparison help me understand the power of Govinda’s expansions?

Practice

Reflect briefly on the candle comparison, then offer a simple prayer of worship to Govinda.

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 todayGovinda’s Expansions Possess Equal PowerThis 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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