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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 20.398Madhya 20.400

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.399

হরিঃ পূর্ণতমঃ পূর্ণতরঃ পূর্ণ ইতি ত্রিধা ।

শ্রেষ্ঠমধ্যাদিভিঃ শব্দৈর্নাট্যে যঃ পরিপঠ্যতে ॥ ৩৯৯ ॥

hariḥ pūrṇatamaḥ pūrṇa-

taraḥ pūrṇa iti tridhā

śreṣṭha-madhyādibhiḥ śabdair

nāṭye yaḥ paripaṭhyate

Translation

“ ‘This is stated in the dramatic literatures as “perfect,” “more perfect” and “most perfect.” Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa manifests Himself in three ways — perfect, more perfect and most perfect.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Manifests Three Degrees of Perfection

  1. 1

    The dramatic literatures describe three degrees: perfect, more perfect and most perfect.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa manifests Himself in these three ways.

  3. 3

    Each of these descriptions expresses perfection in His manifestation.

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:

At this time Caitanya Mahāprabhu was very pleased with him, and thus Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī received knowledge of the Absolute Truth from the Lord Himself. First they discussed the constitutional position of the living entities, and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu explained to Sanātana Gosvāmī how the living entity is one of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s energies.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. pūrṇa-tamaḥmost complete
  3. pūrṇa-taraḥmore complete
  4. pūrṇaḥcomplete
  5. itithus
  6. tridhāthree stages
  7. śreṣṭhabest
  8. madhya-ādibhiḥmiddle, etc.
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this teaching help me think about the different ways Kṛṣṇa manifests Himself?

Practice

Write down the three terms: perfect, more perfect and most perfect.

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 todayKṛṣṇa Manifests Three Degrees of PerfectionThis 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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