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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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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 22.159Madhya 22.161

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.160

কৃষ্ণং স্মরন্‌ জনঞ্চাস্য প্রেষ্ঠং নিজসমীহিতম্‌ ।

তত্তৎকথা-রতশ্চাসৌ কুর্যাদ্বাসং ব্রজে সদা ॥ ১৬০ ॥

kṛṣṇaṁ smaran janaṁ cāsya

preṣṭhaṁ nija-samīhitam

tat-tat-kathā-rataś cāsau

kuryād vāsaṁ vraje sadā

Translation

“ ‘The devotee should always think of Kṛṣṇa within himself and should choose a very dear devotee who is a servitor of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. One should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and his loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa, and one should live in Vṛndāvana. If one is physically unable to go to Vṛndāvana, he should mentally live there.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember Kṛṣṇa and Mentally Reside in Vṛndāvana

  1. 1

    The devotee should always think of Kṛṣṇa within himself and choose a very dear servitor of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

  2. 2

    He should constantly engage in topics about that servitor and the servitor’s loving relationship with Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    He should live in Vṛndāvana. If he cannot go there physically, he should live there mentally.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.2.294).

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. kṛṣṇamLord Kṛṣṇa
  2. smaranthinking of
  3. janama devotee
  4. caand
  5. asyaof His
  6. preṣṭhamvery dear
  7. nija-samīhitamchosen by oneself
  8. tat-tat-kathāto those respective topics
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “relationship”

  • 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

How could you make more room in your day for thoughts of Kṛṣṇa and His dear servitors?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute thinking of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana, even if you cannot be there physically.

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa and Mentally Reside in 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 22.160? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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