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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 20.378Madhya 20.380

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.379

আদৌ প্রকট করায় মাতা-পিতা-ভক্তগণে ।

পাছে প্রকট হয় জন্মাদিক-লীলাক্রমে ॥ ৩৭৯ ॥

ādau prakaṭa karāya mātā-pitā — bhakta-gaṇe

pāche prakaṭa haya janmādika-līlā-krame

Translation

“Before His personal appearance, the Lord causes some of His devotees to appear as His mother, father and intimate associates. He then appears later as if He were taking birth and growing from a baby to a child and gradually into a youth.

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.

The Lord Arranges His Devotees’ Appearance First

  1. 1

    Before His personal appearance, the Lord causes some of His devotees to appear.

  2. 2

    These devotees appear as His mother, father and intimate associates.

  3. 3

    He appears later as if taking birth and growing from a baby to a child and gradually into a youth.

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 explained how Kṛṣṇa attained His permanent form when He reached youth. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained and described everything to Sanātana Gosvāmī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. ādaufirst
  2. prakaṭamanifest
  3. karāyaHe makes
  4. mātā-pitāHis mother and father
  5. bhakta-gaṇesimilar devotees
  6. pācheafter that
  7. prakaṭa hayaare manifested
  8. janma-ādika-līlā-kramesuch pastimes as birth, in order
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: “associates”

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

What do you notice about the Lord’s arranging for His devotees to appear before Him?

Practice

Reread the translation and identify who appears before the Lord and how He then appears.

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 todayThe Lord Arranges His Devotees’ Appearance FirstThis 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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