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Study a Verse

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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.155

তত্তদ্ভাবাদিমাধুর্যে শ্রুতে ধীর্যদপেক্ষতে ।

নাত্র শাস্ত্রং ন যুক্তিঞ্চ তল্লোভোৎপত্তিলক্ষণম্ ॥ ১৫৫ ॥

tat-tad-bhāvādi-mādhurye

śrute dhīr yad apekṣate

nātra śāstraṁ na yuktiṁ ca

tal lobhotpatti-lakṣaṇam

Translation

“ ‘When an advanced, realized devotee hears about the affairs of the devotees of Vṛndāvana — in the mellows of śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya — he becomes inclined in one of these ways, and his intelligence becomes attracted. Indeed, he begins to covet that particular type of devotion. When such covetousness is awakened, one’s intelligence no longer depends on the instructions of śāstra [revealed scripture] or on logic and argument.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing Awakens Longing for Particular Devotion

  1. 1

    An advanced, realized devotee hears about the devotees of Vṛndāvana in the mellows of śānta, dāsya, sakhya, vātsalya and mādhurya.

  2. 2

    His intelligence becomes attracted to one of these ways, and he begins to covet that particular type of devotion.

  3. 3

    When this longing awakens, his intelligence no longer depends on the instructions of śāstra or on logic and argument.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.292).

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
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tat-tatrespective
  2. bhāva-ādi-mādhuryethe sweetness of the loving moods (namely śānta-rasa, dāsya-rasa, sakhya-rasa, vātsalya-rasa and mādhurya-rasa) of the inhabitants of Vṛndāvana
  3. śrutewhen heard
  4. dhīḥthe intelligence
  5. yatwhich
  6. apekṣatedepends on
  7. nanot
  8. atrahere
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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: “depends”

  • Bhāva & rasa · The language of sacred feeling

    Transcendental devotional moods and relationships, discussed explicitly in Rāmānanda’s dialogue and the teachings on prema. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “mellows”

  • 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 do you notice between reasoning about devotion and longing for a particular kind of service?

Practice

Spend a few minutes hearing or reading about the devotion of Vṛndāvana’s inhabitants.

Live this todayHearing Awakens Longing for Particular DevotionThis 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 22.155? Get an answer from the verses themselves.