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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 20.339Madhya 20.341

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.340

‘পীত’-বর্ণ ধরি’ তবে কৈলা প্রবর্তন ।

প্রেমভক্তি দিলা লোকে লঞা ভক্তগণ ॥ ৩৪০ ॥

‘pīta’-varṇa dhari’ tabe kailā pravartana

prema-bhakti dilā loke lañā bhakta-gaṇa

Translation

“In the Age of Kali, Lord Kṛṣṇa assumes a golden color and, accompanied by His personal devotees, introduces hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. By this process He delivers love for Kṛṣṇa to the general populace.

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.

Golden Kṛṣṇa Gives Love Through Chanting

  1. 1

    In the Age of Kali, Lord Kṛṣṇa assumes a golden color and is accompanied by His personal devotees.

  2. 2

    He introduces hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, the chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

  3. 3

    Through this chanting, He delivers love for Kṛṣṇa to the general populace.

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. pīta-varṇa dhari’assuming the color yellow
  2. tabethereafter
  3. kailā pravartanaintroduced the saṅkīrtana movement
  4. prema-bhakti dilāHe distributed love of Kṛṣṇa
  5. loketo the people in general
  6. lañā bhakta-gaṇaaccompanied by His devotees
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana”

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “delivers”

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “love for krsna”

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 understanding chanting as a means of receiving love for Kṛṣṇa shape your approach to it?

Practice

Chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra for a few minutes, remembering that Kṛṣṇa gives love through this process.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayGolden Kṛṣṇa Gives Love Through ChantingThis 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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