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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

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
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 22.160 Madhya 22.162

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.161

দাস-সখা-পিত্রাদি-প্রেয়সীর গণ ।

রাগমার্গে নিজ-নিজ-ভাবের গণন ॥ ১৬১ ॥

dāsa-sakhā-pitrādi-preyasīra gaṇa

rāga-mārge nija-nija-bhāvera gaṇana

Translation

“Kṛṣṇa has many types of devotees — some are servants, some are friends, some are parents, and some are conjugal lovers. Devotees who are situated in one of these attitudes of spontaneous love according to their choice are considered to be on the path of spontaneous loving service.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Different Relationships in Spontaneous Loving Service

1
Kṛṣṇa has many types of devotees, including servants and friends.
2
Other devotees serve as parents or conjugal lovers.
3
Devotees situated in one of these attitudes of spontaneous love according to their choice are on the path of spontaneous loving service.

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

Madhya 22: The Process of Devotional Service

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu describes the symptoms of devotees who are already situated in spontaneous love of God. He also describes the devotees who are trying to follow in the footsteps of the pure devotees.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 22

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

dāsaservants
sakhāfriends
pitṛ-ādiparents
preyasīra gaṇaconjugal lovers
rāga-mārgeon the path of spontaneous loving service
nija-nijaof one’s own choice
bhāveraof the ecstasy
gaṇanacounting

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”, “servants”, “serve”
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: “lovers”
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: “conjugal”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the variety of loving relationships help you appreciate the richness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Read the four relationships named in the translation and briefly reflect on each as an attitude of loving service.

Live this todayDifferent Relationships in Spontaneous 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.

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