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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 22.166Madhya 22.168

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.167

অভিধেয়, সাধন-ভক্তি এবে কহিলুঁ সনাতন ।

সংক্ষেপে কহিলুঁ, বিস্তার না যায় বর্ণন ॥ ১৬৭ ॥

abhidheya, sādhana-bhakti ebe kahiluṅ sanātana

saṅkṣepe kahiluṅ, vistāra nā yāya varṇana

Translation

“My dear Sanātana, I have briefly described the process of devotional service in practice, which is the means for obtaining love of Kṛṣṇa. It cannot be described broadly.”

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional practice leads to love of Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Sanātana has been given a brief description of devotional service in practice.

  2. 2

    This practical devotional service is the means for obtaining love of Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    The process cannot be described broadly; the teaching given here is a brief account.

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. abhidheyathe means of obtaining the desired object
  2. sādhana-bhaktidevotional service performed by means of the body and senses
  3. ebenow
  4. kahiluṅI have described
  5. sanātanaMy dear Sanātana
  6. saṅkṣepein short
  7. kahiluṅI have described
  8. vistāraexpansion
  9. nā yāyais not possible
  10. varṇanadescribing
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 of krsna”

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 does remembering love of Kṛṣṇa as the goal affect my approach to devotional practice?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service today and perform it with the intention of developing love of Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayDevotional practice leads to love of KṛṣṇaThis 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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