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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 20.370Madhya 20.372

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.371

সনকাদ্যে ‘জ্ঞান’-শক্তি, নারদে শক্তি ‘ভক্তি’ ।

ব্রহ্মায় ‘সৃষ্টি’-শক্তি, অনন্তে ‘ভূ-ধারণ’-শক্তি ॥ ৩৭১ ॥

sanakādye ‘jñāna’-śakti, nārade śakti ‘bhakti’

brahmāya ‘sṛṣṭi’-śakti, anante ‘bhū-dhāraṇa’-śakti

Translation

“The power of knowledge was invested in the four Kumāras, and the power of devotional service was invested in Nārada. The power of creation was invested in Lord Brahmā, and the power to carry innumerable planets was invested in Lord Ananta.

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.

Specific Powers Invested in Specific Persons

  1. 1

    The power of knowledge was invested in the four Kumāras.

  2. 2

    The power of devotional service was invested in Nārada.

  3. 3

    The power of creation was invested in Lord Brahmā, and the power to carry innumerable planets was invested in Lord Ananta.

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:

After this, the Lord explained the way of devotional service. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. sanaka-ādyein the four Kumāras
  2. jñāna-śaktithe power of knowledge
  3. nāradein Nārada Muni
  4. śaktithe power
  5. bhaktiof devotional service
  6. brahmāyain Lord Brahmā
  7. sṛṣṭi-śaktithe power of creation
  8. anantein Lord Ananta
  9. bhū-dhāraṇa-śaktithe power to carry the planets
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “service”

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

Which of these invested powers most draws your attention, and why?

Practice

Write each person or group named in the verse beside the power invested in them.

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 todaySpecific Powers Invested in Specific PersonsThis 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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