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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 22.130Madhya 22.132

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.131

শ্রীমদ্ভাগবতার্থানামাস্বাদো রসিকৈঃ সহ ।

সজাতীয়াশয়ে স্নিগ্ধে সাধৌ সঙ্গঃ স্বতো বরে ॥ ১৩১ ॥

śrīmad-bhāgavatārthānām

āsvādo rasikaiḥ saha

sajātīyāśaye snigdhe

sādhau saṅgaḥ svato vare

Translation

“ ‘One should taste the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of pure devotees, and one should associate with the devotees who are more advanced than oneself and who are endowed with a similar type of affection for the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from Pure Devotees

  1. 1

    One should taste the meaning of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam in the association of pure devotees. Seek devotees who are more advanced and have a similar affection for the Lord.

  2. 2

    One should not hear from professional reciters who lack disciplic succession or a taste for bhakti-yoga. Grammatical knowledge and word jugglery alone do not reveal its meaning.

  3. 3

    One should understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam through devotional service and hearing a pure devotee. The reciter should have unflinching faith in Kṛṣṇa and the spiritual master.

Key points from the purport
  • One should not try to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from such materialistic people.
  • One should try to understand Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the spiritual master.
  • Those who are not in the disciplic succession and who are not pure devotees cannot understand the real mysterious objective of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam and Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā.

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 associate with pure devotees. If one has firm faith in the words of a great soul, pure devotional service will awaken.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. śrīmad-bhāgavataof the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
  2. arthānāmof the meanings
  3. āsvādaḥenjoying the taste
  4. rasikaiḥ sahawith the devotees
  5. sa-jātīyasimilar
  6. āśayeendowed with a desire
  7. snigdheadvanced in devotional affection
  8. sādhauwith a devotee
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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: “association”, “associate”, “pure devotee”

  • 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

Do I seek devotional faith and genuine spiritual guidance when choosing whom to hear?

Practice

Hear a short Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam recitation from a pure devotee in the disciplic succession today.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayHear Śrīmad-BhāgavatamA 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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