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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 22.119Madhya 22.121

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.120

বিষ্ণুবৈষ্ণব-নিন্দা, গ্ৰাম্যবার্তা না শুনিব ।

প্রাণিমাত্রে মনোবাক্যে উদ্বেগ না দিব ॥ ১২০ ॥

viṣṇu-vaiṣṇava-nindā, grāmya-vārtā nā śuniba

prāṇi-mātre mano-vākye udvega nā diba

Translation

“(18) The devotee should not hear Lord Viṣṇu or His devotees blasphemed. (19) The devotee should avoid reading or hearing newspapers or mundane books that contain stories of love affairs between men and women or subjects palatable to the senses. (20) Neither by mind nor words should the devotee cause anxiety to any living entity, regardless how insignificant he may be.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Guard Hearing, Thought, and Speech

  1. 1

    The devotee should not hear Lord Viṣṇu or His devotees blasphemed.

  2. 2

    The devotee should avoid reading or hearing newspapers or mundane books containing love affairs or subjects pleasing to the senses.

  3. 3

    Neither in mind nor in words should the devotee cause anxiety to any living entity, however insignificant. These prohibitions guide devotional service through indirect action, while positive duties give direct action.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus the first ten items give direct action, and the second ten items give indirect action.

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:

In this chapter Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu differentiates between a pure devotee and others. He also describes the characteristics of a pure devotee.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. viṣṇu-vaiṣṇava-nindāblaspheming Lord Viṣṇu or His devotee
  2. grāmya-vārtāordinary talks
  3. nā śunibawe should not hear
  4. prāṇi-mātreto any living entity, however insignificant
  5. manaḥ-vākyeby mind or by words
  6. udvegaanxiety
  7. nā dibawe should not give
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Dainya & humility · Making room for grace

    The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “insignificant”

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “love”

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “service”

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

Are my thoughts and words causing anxiety to any living entity?

Practice

Before speaking today, pause and choose words that do not cause anxiety.

Live this todayAvoid mundane readingA 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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