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Study a Verse

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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 21.11

গুণাত্মনস্তেঽপি গুণান্‌ বিমাতুং

হিতাবতীর্ণস্য ক ঈশিরেঽস্য ।

কালেন যৈর্বা বিমিতাঃ সুকল্পৈ-

র্ভূ-পাংশবঃ খে মিহিকা দ্যুভাসঃ ॥ ১১ ॥

guṇātmanas te ’pi guṇān vimātuṁ

hitāvatīrṇasya ka īśire ’sya

kālena yair vā vimitāḥ su-kalpair

bhū-pāṁśavaḥ khe mihikā dyu-bhāsaḥ

Translation

“ ‘In time, great scientists may be able to count all the atoms of the universe, all the stars and planets in the sky, and all the particles of snow, but who among them can count the unlimited transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead? He descends on the surface of the globe for the benefit of all living entities.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Unlimited Qualities, Benefit for All

  1. 1

    In time, great scientists may be able to count all the atoms, stars, planets and particles of snow.

  2. 2

    Yet no one can count the unlimited transcendental qualities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    He descends on the surface of the globe for the benefit of all living entities.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 21.11 quotesSB 10.14.7

This verse is also quoted from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.7).

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

Awe becoming attraction. The Lord’s vast opulence is placed beside the intimate sweetness of Kṛṣṇa.

The mood of Madhya 21 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 21: The Opulence and Sweetness of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives the following summary of the twenty-first chapter. In this chapter Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu fully describes Kṛṣṇaloka, the spiritual sky, the Causal Ocean and the material world, which consists of innumerable universes.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 21
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. guṇa-ātmanaḥthe overseer of the three qualities
  2. teof You
  3. apicertainly
  4. guṇānthe qualities
  5. vimātumto count
  6. hita-avatīrṇasyawho have descended for the benefit of all living entities
  7. kewho
  8. īśirewere able
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to me about the unlimited Lord descending for the benefit of all living entities?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on the words “for the benefit of all living entities.”

Live this todayUnlimited Qualities, Benefit for AllThis 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 21.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.