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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 21: The Opulence and Sweetness of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
Madhya 21.11Madhya 21.13

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 21.12

ব্রহ্মাদি রহু — সহস্রবদনে ‘অনন্ত’ ।

নিরন্তর গায় মুখে, না পায় গুণের অন্ত ॥ ১২ ॥

brahmādi rahu — sahasra-vadane ‘ananta’

nirantara gāya mukhe, nā pāya guṇera anta

Translation

“To say nothing of Lord Brahmā, even Lord Ananta, who has thousands of heads, cannot reach the end of the Lord’s transcendental qualities, even though He is continuously chanting their praises.

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.

Endless Qualities, Continuous Praise

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā cannot reach the end of the Lord’s transcendental qualities.

  2. 2

    Even Lord Ananta, who has thousands of heads, cannot reach their end.

  3. 3

    Lord Ananta continuously chants the praises of those qualities.

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:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then describes Lord Brahmā’s interview with Kṛṣṇa at Dvārakā and the Lord’s curbing the pride of Brahmā. There is also a description of one of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes with Brahmā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 21
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. brahmā-ādi rahuleave aside Lord Brahmā and others
  2. sahasra-vadanein thousands of mouths
  3. anantaLord Ananta
  4. nirantaracontinuously
  5. gāyachants
  6. mukhein the mouths
  7. nā pāyadoes not obtain
  8. guṇeraof qualities of the Lord
  9. antathe end
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “chanting”, “chants”

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 does Lord Ananta’s continuous praise encourage me to praise qualities I cannot fully comprehend?

Practice

Speak a brief praise of the Lord’s unlimited transcendental qualities today.

Live this todayEndless Qualities, Continuous PraiseThis 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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