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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 20.316Madhya 20.318

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.317

ব্রহ্মা, শিব — আজ্ঞাকারী ভক্ত-অবতার ।

পালনার্থে বিষ্ণু — কৃষ্ণের স্বরূপ-আকার ॥ ৩১৭ ॥

brahmā, śiva — ājñā-kārī bhakta-avatāra

pālanārthe viṣṇu — kṛṣṇera svarūpa-ākāra

Translation

“The conclusion is that Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are simply devotee incarnations who carry out orders. However, Lord Viṣṇu, the maintainer, is the personal feature of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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.

Devotee Incarnations and Kṛṣṇa’s Personal Feature

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva are devotee incarnations.

  2. 2

    Their role is to carry out orders.

  3. 3

    Lord Viṣṇu is the maintainer and the personal feature of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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. brahmāLord Brahmā
  2. śivaLord Śiva
  3. ājñā-kārīorder-carriers
  4. bhakta-avatāraincarnations of devotees
  5. pālana-arthefor maintenance
  6. viṣṇuLord Viṣṇu
  7. kṛṣṇeraof Lord Kṛṣṇa
  8. svarūpa-ākārain the form of a personal feature
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What distinction does this conclusion make between the devotee incarnations and Lord Viṣṇu?

Practice

Make a two-line note: one line for Brahmā and Śiva’s role, and one for Viṣṇu’s position.

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 todayDevotee Incarnations and Kṛṣṇa’s Personal FeatureThis 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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