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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 21.58
অনন্ত ব্রহ্মাণ্ডের যত ব্রহ্মা-রুদ্রগণ ।
চিরলোকপাল-শব্দে তাহার গণন ॥ ৫৮ ॥
ananta brahmāṇḍera yata brahmā-rudra-gaṇa
cira-loka-pāla-śabde tāhāra gaṇana
“Actually it is very difficult to ascertain the number of universes. Every universe has its separate Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, who are known as permanent governors. Therefore there is also no counting them.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The number of universes is very difficult to ascertain. Each universe has its own Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva, so they also cannot be counted.
Brahmā and Śiva are called cira-loka-pāla, permanent governors, because they govern from creation’s beginning to its end. The same living entities may not hold these positions in the next creation.
Loka-pāla means “predominating deities.” The eight predominating deities of the prominent heavenly planets are Indra, Agni, Yama, Varuṇa, Nirṛti, Vāyu, Kuvera and Śiva.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
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
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
Learn the words of the verse.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
How does the meaning of “permanent governors” clarify what lasts from the beginning to the end of a creation?
Write one sentence explaining why Brahmā and Śiva are called permanent governors.
His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.
1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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