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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 22.111Madhya 22.113

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.112

য এষাং পুরুষং সাক্ষাদাত্ম-প্রভবমীশ্বরম্‌ ।

ন ভজন্ত্যবজানন্তি স্থানাদ্‌ ভ্রষ্টাঃ পতন্ত্যধঃ ॥ ১১২ ॥

ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād

ātma-prabhavam īśvaram

na bhajanty avajānanti

sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ

Translation

“ ‘If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.’

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.

Position Alone Cannot Replace Worship

  1. 1

    Simply maintaining an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas is not enough.

  2. 2

    One must worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu rather than remain puffed up about one’s position.

  3. 3

    Without that worship, one falls from a proud position into a hellish condition.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yethose who
  2. eṣāmof those divisions of social and spiritual orders
  3. puruṣamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. sākṣātdirectly
  5. ātma-prabhavamthe source of everyone
  6. īśvaramthe supreme controller
  7. nanot
  8. bhajantiworship
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I give more importance to my position than to worship of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Set aside a brief time today to worship Lord Viṣṇu rather than focus on your status.

Live this todayPosition Alone Cannot Replace WorshipThis 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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