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 21.60Madhya 21.62

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 21.61

বিস্মিত হঞা ব্রহ্মা দ্বারীকে কহিলা ।

‘কহ গিয়া সনক-পিতা চতুর্মুখ আইলা’ ॥ ৬১ ॥

vismita hañā brahmā dvārīke kahilā

‘kaha giyā sanaka-pitā caturmukha āilā’

Translation

“When the doorman asked, ‘Which Brahmā?’ Lord Brahmā was surprised. He told the doorman, ‘Please go inform Lord Kṛṣṇa that I am the four-headed Brahmā who is the father of the four Kumāras.’

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.

Brahmā Is Surprised and Identifies Himself

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā was surprised when the doorman asked, “Which Brahmā?”

  2. 2

    He asked the doorman to inform Lord Kṛṣṇa that he was the four-headed Brahmā.

  3. 3

    He further identified himself as the father of the four Kumāras.

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. vismita hañābecoming surprised
  2. brahmāLord Brahmā
  3. dvārīkeunto the doorman
  4. kahilāreplied
  5. kahainform
  6. giyāgoing
  7. sanaka-pitāthe father of the four Kumāras
  8. catur-mukhafour-headed
  9. āilāhas come
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What stands out to you about Brahmā’s surprise and the way he identifies himself?

Practice

Note the two details Brahmā gives the doorman to identify himself.

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 todayBrahmā Is Surprised and Identifies HimselfThis 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 21.61? 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