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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 20.99
“নীচ জাতি, নীচ-সঙ্গী, পতিত অধম ।
কুবিষয়-কূপে পড়ি’ গোঙাইনু জনম ! ৯৯ ॥
“nīca jāti, nīca-saṅgī, patita adhama
kuviṣaya-kūpe paḍi’ goṅāinu janama!
Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “I was born in a low family, and my associates are all low-class men. I myself am fallen and am the lowest of men. Indeed, I have passed my whole life fallen in the well of sinful materialism.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
Although Sanātana Gosvāmī described himself as low-born, he actually belonged to the Sārasvata division of the brāhmaṇas. He was well cultured and well educated.
His ministership in the Muslim government brought him into association with meat-eaters, drunkards and gross materialists. Having fallen victim to material enjoyment, he considered his valuable time wasted.
The purport describes the world as fallen into material existence and sinful enjoyment. Yet those who submit themselves at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu will be saved from sinful reactions.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
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
From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:
Sanātana Gosvāmī and his servant then spent the night in a small hotel on the way to Benares. The hotel owner knew that Sanātana Gosvāmī and his servant had eight gold coins, and he decided to kill them and take the money.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 20
Learn the words of the verse.
The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.
Dainya & humility · Making room for grace
The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “fallen”, “lowest”
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”, “association”
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.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
How are my associations shaping the way I use my valuable time?
Offer a humble prayer at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, asking for shelter from sinful material life.
His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.
3 lectures given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.
In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.
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 20.99? Get an answer from the verses themselves.