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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.351
‘অতি ক্ষুদ্র জীব মুঞি নীচ, নীচাচার ।
কেমনে জানিব কলিতে কোন্ অবতার ?’ ৩৫১ ॥
‘ati kṣudra jīva muñi nīca, nīcācāra
kemane jāniba kalite kon avatāra?’
Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “I am a very insignificant living entity. I am low and poorly behaved. How can I understand who is the incarnation for this Age of Kali?”
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
Although Sanātana Gosvāmī was a most exalted personality, he presented himself as insignificant and poorly behaved.
He asked on behalf of the general populace how to recognize the incarnation for the Age of Kali.
The purport warns that false claims of being God deceive people. Sanātana Gosvāmī’s question invites Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s guidance.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
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
From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:
First they discussed the constitutional position of the living entities, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī how the living entity is one of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s energies. After this, the Lord explained the way of devotional service.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
Learn the words of the verse.
The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.
Dainya & humility · Making room for grace
The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “insignificant”
Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
Am I willing to ask humbly for guidance rather than readily accept someone’s claim to be God?
Reread Sanātana Gosvāmī’s question and write down one sincere question you have about recognizing an incarnation.
His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.
1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.
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 20.351? Get an answer from the verses themselves.