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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 20.361Madhya 20.363

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.362

এই সব কার্য — তাঁর তটস্থ-লক্ষণ ।

অন্য অবতার ঐছে জানে মুনিগণ ॥ ৩৬২ ॥

ei saba kārya — tāṅra taṭastha-lakṣaṇa

anya avatāra aiche jāne muni-gaṇa

Translation

“All these activities are His marginal characteristics. Great saintly persons understand the incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by the indications of the two characteristics known as svarūpa and taṭastha. All the incarnations of Kṛṣṇa should be understood in this way.

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.

Recognizing Incarnations Through Two Characteristics

  1. 1

    The activities described are the Lord’s marginal characteristics.

  2. 2

    Great saintly persons understand the Lord’s incarnations through the two characteristics called svarūpa and taṭastha.

  3. 3

    All incarnations of Kṛṣṇa should be understood through these two characteristics.

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. ei saba kāryaall these activities
  2. tāṅraHis
  3. taṭastha-lakṣaṇamarginal characteristics
  4. anya avatāraanother incarnation
  5. aichein that same way
  6. jāneknow
  7. muni-gaṇathe great saintly persons like Vyāsadeva
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “saintly”

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 can these two characteristics guide your understanding of Kṛṣṇa’s incarnations?

Practice

Write a one-sentence reminder that all incarnations of Kṛṣṇa are to be understood through svarūpa and taṭastha.

Live this todayRecognizing Incarnations Through Two CharacteristicsThis 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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