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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 22.148Madhya 22.150

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.149

রাগাত্মিকা-ভক্তি — ‘মুখ্যা’ ব্রজবাসি-জনে ।

তার অনুগত ভক্তির ‘রাগানুগা’-নামে ॥ ১৪৯ ॥

rāgātmikā-bhakti — ‘mukhyā’ vraja-vāsi-jane

tāra anugata bhaktira ‘rāgānugā’-nāme

Translation

“The original inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are attached to Kṛṣṇa spontaneously in devotional service. Nothing can compare to such spontaneous devotional service, which is called rāgātmikā bhakti. When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana, his devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Following the Devotees of Vṛndāvana

  1. 1

    The original inhabitants of Vṛndāvana are spontaneously attached to Kṛṣṇa in devotional service.

  2. 2

    Their spontaneous devotional service is called rāgātmikā bhakti. Nothing can compare to it.

  3. 3

    When a devotee follows in the footsteps of the devotees of Vṛndāvana, that service is called rāgānugā bhakti.

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:

Spontaneous devotional service arises when one follows a pure devotee who is awakened to spontaneous love of God. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu describes the symptoms of devotees who are already situated in spontaneous love of God.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. rāgātmikā-bhaktispontaneous devotional service
  2. mukhyāpreeminent
  3. vraja-vāsi-janein the inhabitants of Vraja, or Vṛndāvana
  4. tārathat
  5. anugatafollowing
  6. bhaktiraof devotional service
  7. rāgānugā-nāmenamed rāgānugā or following after spontaneous devotional service
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”

  • 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

What distinction does this teaching make between rāgātmikā bhakti and rāgānugā bhakti?

Practice

Write one short definition each of rāgātmikā bhakti and rāgānugā bhakti using this teaching.

Live this todayFollowing the Devotees of VṛndāvanaThis 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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