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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

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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 21.40Madhya 21.42

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 21.41

যস্যৈকনিশ্বসিতকালমথাবলম্ব্য

জীবন্তি লোমবিলজা জগদণ্ডনাথাঃ ।

বিষ্ণুর্মহান্‌ স ইহ যস্য কলাবিশেষো

গোবিন্দমাদিপুরুষং তমহং ভজামি ॥ ৪১ ॥

yasyaika-niśvasita-kālam athāvalambya

jīvanti loma-vila-jā jagad-aṇḍa-nāthāḥ

viṣṇur mahān sa iha yasya kalā-viśeṣo

govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

Translation

“ ‘The Brahmās and other lords of the mundane worlds appear from the pores of Mahā-Viṣṇu and remain alive for the duration of His one exhalation. I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda, of whom Mahā-Viṣṇu is a portion of a plenary portion.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Govinda Is the Source of Mahā-Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    The Brahmās and other lords of the mundane worlds appear from the pores of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    They remain alive for the duration of one exhalation of Mahā-Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    This quotation from the Brahma-saṁhitā adores the primeval Lord, Govinda. Mahā-Viṣṇu is a portion of His plenary portion.

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. yasyawhose
  2. ekaone
  3. niśvasitaof breath
  4. kālamtime
  5. athathus
  6. avalambyataking shelter of
  7. jīvantilive
  8. loma-vila-jāḥgrown from the hair holes
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the lifetime of these lords help you appreciate Govinda’s greatness?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, pausing at the words “I adore the primeval Lord, Govinda.”

4

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayGovinda Is the Source of Mahā-ViṣṇuThis 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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