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 20.58Madhya 20.60

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.59

বিপ্রাদ্‌দ্বিষড়্ গুণযুতাদরবিন্দনাভ-

পাদারবিন্দবিমুখাৎ শ্বপচং বরিষ্ঠম্‌ ।

মন্যে তদর্পিত-মনোবচনেহিতার্থ-

প্রাণং পুনাতি স কুলং ন তু ভূরিমানঃ ॥ ৫৯ ॥

viprād dvi-ṣaḍ-guṇa-yutād aravinda-nābha-

pādāravinda-vimukhāt śva-pacaṁ variṣṭham

manye tad-arpita-mano-vacanehitārtha-

prāṇaṁ punāti sa kulaṁ na tu bhūri-mānaḥ

Translation

“ ‘One may be born in a brāhmaṇa family and have all twelve brahminical qualities, but if he is not devoted to the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who has a navel shaped like a lotus, he is not as good as a caṇḍāla who has dedicated his mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the service of the Lord. Simply to take birth in a brāhmaṇa family or to have brahminical qualities is not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of the Lord. If a śva-paca or caṇḍāla is a devotee, he delivers not only himself but his whole family, whereas a brāhmaṇa who is not a devotee but simply has brahminical qualifications cannot even purify himself, what to speak of his family.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Surpasses Birth and Qualifications

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja teaches that birth in a brāhmaṇa family and all twelve brahminical qualities are not sufficient. One must become a pure devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    A caṇḍāla who dedicates mind, words, activities, wealth and life to the Lord’s service surpasses a brāhmaṇa without devotion.

  3. 3

    A devotee can deliver both himself and his whole family. A brāhmaṇa with qualifications but no devotion cannot even purify himself.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.10).
  • A brāhmaṇa is supposed to be qualified with twelve qualities.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 20.59 quotesSB 7.9.10

This verse is spoken by Prahlāda Mahārāja in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.10).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

The hotel owner knew that Sanātana Gosvāmī and his servant had eight gold coins, and he decided to kill them and take the money. Making plans in this way, the hotel owner received them as honorable guests.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. viprātthan a brāhmaṇa
  2. dvi-ṣaṭ-guṇa-yutātwho is qualified with twelve brahminical qualifications
  3. aravinda-nābhaof Lord Viṣṇu, who has a lotuslike navel
  4. pāda-aravindaunto the lotus feet
  5. vimukhātthan a person bereft of devotion
  6. śva-pacama caṇḍāla, or a person accustomed to eating dogs
  7. variṣṭhammore glorified
  8. manyeI think
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “delivers”, “deliver”

  • 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: “pure devotee”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

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

How can I dedicate more of my words and activities to the Lord’s service?

Practice

Choose one activity today and consciously dedicate it to the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayDevotion Surpasses Birth and QualificationsThis 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 20.59? 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