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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 20.367Madhya 20.369

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.368

শক্ত্যাবেশ দুইরূপ — ‘মুখ্য’, ‘গৌণ’ দেখি ।

সাক্ষাৎশক্ত্যে ‘অবতার’, আভাসে ‘বিভূতি’ লিখি ॥ ৩৬৮ ॥

śaktyāveśa dui-rūpa — ‘mukhya’, ‘gauṇa’ dekhi

sākṣāt-śaktye ‘avatāra’, ābhāse ‘vibhūti’ likhi

Translation

“Empowered incarnations are of two types — primary and secondary. The primary ones are directly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are called incarnations. The secondary ones are indirectly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are called vibhūti.

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.

Two Types of Empowered Incarnations

  1. 1

    Empowered incarnations are of two types: primary and secondary.

  2. 2

    Primary ones are directly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are called incarnations.

  3. 3

    Secondary ones are indirectly empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are called vibhūti.

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. śakti-āveśaempowered incarnations
  2. dui-rūpatwo categories
  3. mukhyaprimary
  4. gauṇasecondary
  5. dekhiI see
  6. sākṣāt-śaktyewhen there is direct power
  7. avatārathey are called incarnations
  8. ābhāsewhen there is indication
  9. vibhūti likhithey are called vibhūti, or possessing special favor
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What distinction does this verse make between direct and indirect empowerment?

Practice

Write two short lines: “Primary: directly empowered” and “Secondary: indirectly empowered, called vibhūti.”

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 todayTwo Types of Empowered IncarnationsThis 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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