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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 21.69
দেখি’ চতুর্মুখ ব্রহ্মা ফাঁপর হইলা ।
হস্তিগণ-মধ্যে যেন শশক রহিলা ॥ ৬৯ ॥
dekhi’ caturmukha brahmā phāṅpara ha-ilā
hasti-gaṇa-madhye yena śaśaka rahilā
“When the four-headed Brahmā of this universe saw all these opulences of Kṛṣṇa, he became very much bewildered and considered himself a rabbit among many elephants.
Read this verse on Vedabase.ioThis verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.
Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The four-headed Brahmā of this universe sees these opulences of Kṛṣṇa.
The sight leaves him very much bewildered.
He considers himself a rabbit among many elephants.
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.
What does Brahmā’s comparison reveal about how he now sees himself?
Recall Brahmā’s image of a rabbit among elephants, and take a moment to reflect humbly on your own importance.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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