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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 22.135Madhya 22.137-139

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.136

শ্রীবিষ্ণোঃ শ্রবণে পরীক্ষিদভবদ্বৈয়াসকিঃ কীর্তনে

প্রহ্লাদঃ স্মরণে তদঙ্ঘ্রিভজনে লক্ষ্মীঃ পৃথুঃ পূজনে ।

অক্রূরস্ত্বভিবন্দনে কপিপতির্দাস্যেঽথ সখ্যেঽর্জুনঃ

সর্বস্বাত্মনিবেদনে বলিরভূৎ কৃষ্ণাপ্তিরেষাং পরা ॥ ১৩৬ ॥

śrī-viṣṇoḥ śravaṇe parīkṣid abhavad vaiyāsakiḥ kīrtane

prahlādaḥ smaraṇe tad-aṅghri-bhajane lakṣmīḥ pṛthuḥ pūjane

akrūras tv abhivandane kapi-patir dāsye ’tha sakhye ’rjunaḥ

sarva-svātma-nivedane balir abhūt kṛṣṇāptir eṣāṁ parā

Translation

“ ‘Mahārāja Parīkṣit attained the highest perfection, shelter at Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, simply by hearing about Lord Viṣṇu. Śukadeva Gosvāmī attained perfection simply by reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Prahlāda Mahārāja attained perfection by remembering the Lord. The goddess of fortune attained perfection by massaging the transcendental legs of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Mahārāja Pṛthu attained perfection by worshiping the Deity, and Akrūra attained perfection by offering prayers unto the Lord. Vajrāṅgajī [Hanumān] attained perfection by rendering service to Lord Rāmacandra, and Arjuna attained perfection simply by being Kṛṣṇa’s friend. Bali Mahārāja attained perfection by dedicating everything to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nine Ways Devotees Attained Perfection

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit attained shelter at Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet by hearing about Lord Viṣṇu. Śukadeva Gosvāmī attained perfection by reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, and Prahlāda Mahārāja by remembering the Lord.

  2. 2

    The goddess of fortune attained perfection by massaging the transcendental legs of Mahā-Viṣṇu. Mahārāja Pṛthu attained perfection by worshiping the Deity, and Akrūra by offering prayers to the Lord.

  3. 3

    Vajrāṅgajī [Hanumān] attained perfection by serving Lord Rāmacandra, and Arjuna by being Kṛṣṇa’s friend. Bali Mahārāja attained perfection by dedicating everything to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse appears in the Padyāvalī (53) and the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.265).

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. śrī-viṣṇoḥof Lord Śrī Viṣṇu
  2. śravaṇein hearing
  3. parīkṣitKing Parīkṣit, known also as Viṣṇurāta, or one who is protected by Lord Viṣṇu
  4. abhavatwas
  5. vaiyāsakiḥŚukadeva Gosvāmī
  6. kīrtanein reciting Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
  7. prahlādaḥMahārāja Prahlāda
  8. smaraṇein remembering
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “shelter”, “lotus feet”

  • 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”, “serving”

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

Which of these forms of devotional service draws your attention most?

Practice

Offer one simple prayer to the Lord today.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

Quoted in 3 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 3 lectures

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 todayNine Ways Devotees Attained PerfectionThis 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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