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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 21.82Madhya 21.84

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 21.83

জানন্ত এব জানন্তু কিং বহূক্ত্যা ন মে প্রভো ।

মনসো বপুষো বাচো বৈভবং তব গোচরঃ ॥ ৮৩ ॥

jānanta eva jānantu

kiṁ bahūktyā na me prabho

manaso vapuṣo vāco

vaibhavaṁ tava gocaraḥ

Translation

“ ‘There are people who say, “I know everything about Kṛṣṇa.” Let them think in that way. As far as I am concerned, I do not wish to speak very much about this matter. O my Lord, let me say this much. As far as Your opulences are concerned, they are all beyond the reach of my mind, body and words.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Opulences Exceed Mind, Body, and Words

  1. 1

    The purport identifies these words as a statement by Lord Brahmā from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

  2. 2

    Brahmā leaves others to claim that they know everything about Kṛṣṇa. He himself does not wish to speak very much about the matter.

  3. 3

    Addressing his Lord, Brahmā says that His opulences are beyond the reach of Brahmā’s mind, body, and words.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.38), spoken by Lord Brahmā.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 21.83 quotesSB 10.14.38

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.14.38), spoken by Lord Brahmā.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. jānantaḥpersons who think they are aware of Your unlimited potency
  2. evacertainly
  3. jānantulet them think like that
  4. kimwhat is the use
  5. bahu-uktyāwith many words
  6. nanot
  7. memy
  8. prabhoO my Lord
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might Brahmā’s humility change the way you speak about Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read Brahmā’s words slowly once, acknowledging that Kṛṣṇa’s opulences exceed your ability to describe them.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Opulences Exceed Mind, Body, and WordsThis 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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