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Study a Verse

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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.346

ধ্যায়ন্ কৃতে যজন্ যজ্ঞৈস্ত্রেতায়াং দ্বাপরেঽর্চয়ন্ ।

যদাপ্নোতি তদাপ্নোতি কলৌ সঙ্কীর্ত্য কেশবম্ ॥ ৩৪৬ ॥

dhyāyan kṛte yajan yajñais

tretāyāṁ dvāpare ’rcayan

yad āpnoti tad āpnoti

kalau saṅkīrtya keśavam

Translation

“ ‘Whatever is achieved by meditation in Satya-yuga, by the performance of yajña in Tretā-yuga or by the worship of Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet in Dvāpara-yuga is also obtained in the Age of Kali simply by chanting the glories of Lord Keśava.’

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.

Chant Lord Keśava’s Glories in Kali

  1. 1

    In Satya-yuga, spiritual results were achieved through meditation.

  2. 2

    In Tretā-yuga, they were achieved by performing yajña, and in Dvāpara-yuga by worshiping Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

  3. 3

    In the Age of Kali, the same results are obtained simply by chanting the glories of Lord Keśava.

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. dhyāyanmeditating
  2. kṛtein Satya-yuga
  3. yajanworshiping
  4. yajñaiḥby the performance of great sacrifices
  5. tretāyāmin Tretā-yuga
  6. dvāparein Dvāpara-yuga
  7. arcayanworshiping the lotus feet
  8. yatwhatever
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”

  • 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 knowing the practice for this age help you focus your spiritual efforts?

Practice

Take a short time today to chant the glories of Lord Keśava.

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 todayChant Lord Keśava’s Glories in KaliThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 20.346? Get an answer from the verses themselves.