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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 22.153Madhya 22.155

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.154

বিরাজন্তীমভিব্যক্তাং ব্ৰজবাসিজনাদিষু ।

রাগাত্মিকামনুসৃতা যা সা রাগানুগোচ্যতে ॥ ১৫৪ ॥

virājantīm abhivyaktāṁ

vraja-vāsi-janādiṣu

rāgātmikām anusṛtā

yā sā rāgānugocyate

Translation

“ ‘Devotional service in spontaneous love is vividly expressed and manifested by the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana. Devotional service that accords with their devotional service is called rāgānugā bhakti, or devotional service following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Loving Service of Vṛndāvana

  1. 1

    The inhabitants of Vṛndāvana vividly express and manifest devotional service in spontaneous love.

  2. 2

    Rāgānugā bhakti is devotional service that accords with their devotional service.

  3. 3

    It means following in the wake of their spontaneous loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.270).

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:

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. virājantīmshining intensely
  2. abhivyaktāmfully expressed
  3. vraja-vāsi-jana-ādiṣuamong the eternal inhabitants of Vṛndāvana
  4. rāga-ātmikāmdevotional service consisting of spontaneous love
  5. anusṛtāfollowing
  6. yāwhich
  7. sāthat
  8. rāga-anugādevotional service following in the wake of spontaneous love
  9. ucyateis said
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”

  • 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”

  • 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 does following the loving service of Vṛndāvana’s inhabitants mean to you?

Practice

Read the translation slowly, giving special attention to the words “following in the wake of spontaneous loving service.”

Live this todayFollow the Loving Service 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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