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 21: The Opulence and Sweetness of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa
Madhya 21.127Madhya 21.129

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 21.128

করনখ-চান্দের হাট,     বংশী-উপর করে নাট,

তার গীত মুরলীর তান ।

পদনখ-চন্দ্রগণ,     তলে করে নর্তন,

নূপুরের ধ্বনি যার গান ॥ ১২৮ ॥

kara-nakha-cāndera hāṭa, vaṁśī-upara kare nāṭa,

tāra gīta muralīra tāna

pada-nakha-candra-gaṇa, tale kare nartana,

nūpurera dhvani yāra gāna

Translation

“His fingernails are many full moons, and they dance on the flute in His hands. Their song is the melody of that flute. His toenails are also many full moons, and they dance on the ground. Their song is the jingling of His ankle bells.

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’s Moons Dance and Sing

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s fingernails are many full moons dancing on the flute in His hands.

  2. 2

    The song of these fingernail moons is the melody of His flute.

  3. 3

    His toenails are also full moons dancing on the ground. Their song is the jingling of His ankle bells.

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:

In this chapter the author of the Caitanya-caritāmṛta has presented some nice poems about the pastimes of Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s superexcellent beauty. Throughout the rest of the chapter, our intimate relationship ( sambandha ) with Kṛṣṇa is described.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 21
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kara-nakhaof the nails on the hands
  2. cānderaof the full moons
  3. hāṭathe bazaar
  4. vaṁśīthe flute
  5. uparaon
  6. karedo
  7. nāṭadancing
  8. tāraof them
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do movement and sound enrich this description of Kṛṣṇa’s beauty?

Practice

Read the verse slowly, noticing the two dances and their two songs.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Moons Dance and SingThis 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 21.128? 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