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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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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 22.117Madhya 22.119

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.118

অবৈষ্ণব-সঙ্গ-ত্যাগ, বহুশিষ্য না করিব ।

বহুগ্রন্থ-কলাভ্যাস-ব্যাখ্যান বর্জিব ॥ ১১৮ ॥

avaiṣṇava-saṅga-tyāga, bahu-śiṣya nā kariba

bahu-grantha-kalābhyāsa-vyākhyāna varjiba

Translation

“The twelfth item is to give up the company of nondevotees. (13) One should not accept an unlimited number of disciples. (14) One should not partially study many scriptures just to be able to give references and expand explanations.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Company and Spiritual Responsibilities Carefully

  1. 1

    One should give up the company of nondevotees. One should not partially study many scriptures merely to give references and expand explanations.

  2. 2

    Accepting unlimited disciples is generally forbidden because the spiritual master accepts their sinful activities and reactions. Unless sufficiently powerful, he cannot assimilate those reactions and must suffer the consequences.

  3. 3

    According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, a preacher must accept many disciples to expand the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The purport particularly warns that accepting unlimited disciples is very risky for one who is not a preacher.

Key points from the purport
  • Accepting an unlimited number of devotees or disciples is very risky for one who is not a preacher.
  • According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, a preacher has to accept many disciples to expand the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.
  • Therefore one is generally forbidden to accept many disciples.

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

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:

One has to fully surrender unto the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and give up attraction for women and nondevotees. The six symptoms of fully surrendered souls are also described in this chapter.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. avaiṣṇavaof one who is not a devotee of the Lord
  2. saṅgathe association
  3. tyāgagiving up
  4. bahu-śiṣyaan unlimited number of disciples
  5. nā karibashould not accept
  6. bahu-granthaof many different types of scriptures
  7. kalā-abhyāsastudying a portion
  8. vyākhyānaand explanation
  9. varjibawe should give up
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “company of”

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

Am I studying scripture to understand it, or merely to appear knowledgeable?

Practice

Study one passage carefully today rather than collecting references from many scriptures.

Live this todayGive up the company of nondevoteesA practice of bhakti taught in this verse

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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