1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 22.136Madhya 22.140

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Madhya 22.137-139

স বৈ মনঃ কৃষ্ণপদারবিন্দয়ো-

র্বচাংসি বৈকুণ্ঠগুণানুবর্ণনে ।

করৌ হরের্মন্দিরমার্জনাদিষু

শ্রুতিঞ্চকারাচ্যুত-সৎকথোদয়ে ॥ ১৩৭ ॥

sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor

vacāṁsi vaikuṇṭha-guṇānuvarṇane

karau harer mandira-mārjanādiṣu

śrutiṁ cakārācyuta-sat-kathodaye

Translation

“ ‘Mahārāja Ambarīṣa always engaged his mind at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa, his words in describing the spiritual world and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his hands in cleansing and washing the Lord’s temple, his ears in hearing topics about the Supreme Lord, his eyes in seeing the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa in the temple, his body in embracing Vaiṣṇavas or touching their lotus feet, his nostrils in smelling the aroma of the tulasī leaves offered to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, his tongue in tasting food offered to Kṛṣṇa, his legs in going to places of pilgrimage like Vṛndāvana and Mathurā or to the Lord’s temple, his head in touching the lotus feet of the Lord and offering Him obeisances, and his desires in serving the Lord faithfully. In this way Mahārāja Ambarīṣa engaged his senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. As a result, he awakened his dormant loving propensity for the Lord’s service.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage the Senses in Loving Service

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Ambarīṣa engaged his mind at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet, his words in describing the spiritual world and the Lord, and his ears in hearing about Him. His eyes saw Kṛṣṇa’s Deity, and his hands cleaned the Lord’s temple.

  2. 2

    He engaged his body in embracing Vaiṣṇavas or touching their lotus feet, his nostrils in smelling offered tulasī leaves, and his tongue in tasting food offered to Kṛṣṇa. His legs carried him to holy places or the temple, and his head bowed before the Lord.

  3. 3

    His desires were directed toward serving the Lord faithfully. By engaging his senses in transcendental loving service, he awakened his dormant love for the Lord’s service.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 22.137-139 quotesSB 9.4.18-20

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.4.18-20).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. saḥhe (Mahārāja Ambarīṣa)
  2. vaicertainly
  3. manaḥthe mind
  4. kṛṣṇa-pada-aravindayoḥon the two lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa
  5. vacāṁsiwords
  6. vaikuṇṭha-guṇa-anuvarṇanein describing the transcendental character of Kṛṣṇa
  7. karauthe two hands
  8. hareḥof Lord Kṛṣṇa or Viṣṇu
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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”, “cleansing”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

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

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “vṛndāvana”

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 your senses could you engage more consciously in the Lord’s service?

Practice

Spend a few minutes hearing topics about the Supreme Lord with focused attention.

Live this todayEngage the Senses in Loving ServiceThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 22.137-139? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters