1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 20.369Madhya 20.371

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.370

বৈকুণ্ঠে ‘শেষ’ — ধরা ধরয়ে ‘অনন্ত’ ।

এই মুখ্যাবেশাবতার — বিস্তারে নাহি অন্ত ॥ ৩৭০ ॥

vaikuṇṭhe ‘śeṣa’ — dharā dharaye ‘ananta’

ei mukhyāveśāvatāra — vistāre nāhi anta

Translation

“Lord Śeṣa in the spiritual world of Vaikuṇṭha and, in the material world, Lord Ananta, who carries innumerable planets on His hoods, are two primary empowered incarnations. There is no need to count the others, for they are unlimited.

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.

Śeṣa and Ananta Are Primary Empowered Incarnations

  1. 1

    Lord Śeṣa is in the spiritual world of Vaikuṇṭha.

  2. 2

    Lord Ananta is in the material world and carries innumerable planets on His hoods.

  3. 3

    Both are primary empowered incarnations. There is no need to count the others, because they are unlimited.

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:

He also described the incarnations of God within the material world, incarnations such as the puruṣa-avatāras, manvantara-avatāras, guṇa-avatāras and śaktyāveśa-avatāras. The Lord also discussed the divisions of Kṛṣṇa’s different ages, such as bālya and paugaṇḍa, and the different pastimes of the different ages.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. vaikuṇṭhein the spiritual world
  2. śeṣaLord Śeṣa
  3. dharā dharayecarries innumerable planets
  4. anantaAnanta
  5. eithese
  6. mukhya-āveśa-avatāraprimary directly empowered incarnations
  7. vistārein expanding them
  8. nāhithere is not
  9. antalimit
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you about Lord Ananta’s carrying innumerable planets?

Practice

Make a two-line note identifying where Lord Śeṣa and Lord Ananta are situated.

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 todayŚeṣa and Ananta Are Primary 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 20.370? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters