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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 22: The Process of Devotional Service
Madhya 22.110Madhya 22.112

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.111

মুখবাহূরুপাদেভ্যঃ পুরুষস্যাশ্রমৈঃ সহ ।

চত্বারো জজ্ঞিরে বর্ণা গুণৈর্বিপ্রাদয়ঃ পৃথক্‌ ॥ ১১১ ॥

mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ

puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha

catvāro jajñire varṇā

guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak

Translation

“ ‘From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Social and Spiritual Orders Complete Human Society

  1. 1

    The brahminical order comes from Brahmā’s mouth, and the kṣatriyas come from his arms.

  2. 2

    The vaiśyas come from Brahmā’s waist, and the śūdras come from his legs.

  3. 3

    These four orders, together with brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa, make human society complete.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse and the next are quotations from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.2-3).

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 22.111 quotesSB 11.5.2

This verse and the next are quotations from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.2-3).

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

Trust and resolution. Devotional practice and association offer a steady path for awakening love.

The mood of Madhya 22 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 22: The Process of Devotional Service

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

There are sixty-four items listed in regulative devotional service, and out of these sixty-four the last five are considered very important. By practicing even one of the nine processes of devotional service, one can become successful.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. mukhathe mouth
  2. bāhuthe arms
  3. ūruthe thighs
  4. pādebhyaḥfrom the legs
  5. puruṣasyaof the supreme person
  6. āśramaiḥthe different spiritual orders
  7. sahawith
  8. catvāraḥthe four
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Kīrtana community · A movement of shared hearts

    Devotional community as a living network of branches, service, festivals, care, and collective chanting. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “together”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this description help you see society as having complementary parts?

Practice

Write down the four social orders and their four spiritual counterparts.

Live this todaySocial and Spiritual Orders Complete Human SocietyThis 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 22.111? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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