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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 22.16Madhya 22.18

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.17

কৃষ্ণভক্তি হয় অভিধেয়-প্রধান ।

ভক্তিমুখ-নিরীক্ষক কর্ম-যোগ-জ্ঞান ॥ ১৭ ॥

kṛṣṇa-bhakti haya abhidheya-pradhāna

bhakti-mukha-nirīkṣaka karma-yoga-jñāna

Translation

“Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the chief function of the living entity. There are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul — karma, jñāna, yoga and bhakti — but all the others are dependent on bhakti.

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 Service Is Our Chief Function

  1. 1

    Devotional service to Kṛṣṇa is the chief function of the living entity.

  2. 2

    Karma, jñāna, yoga and bhakti are different methods for the liberation of the conditioned soul.

  3. 3

    All the other methods depend on bhakti.

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:

An intelligent person should abandon the processes of karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and mystic yoga. One should give up all these useless processes and take seriously to the path of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kṛṣṇa-bhaktidevotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa
  2. hayais
  3. abhidheya-pradhānathe chief function of the living entity
  4. bhakti-mukhaof the face of devotional service
  5. nirīkṣakaobservers
  6. karma-yoga-jñānafruitive activities, mystic yoga and speculative knowledge
3

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: “dependent”, “depend”

  • 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”

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 would change in your priorities if devotional service to Kṛṣṇa were your chief function?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today specifically for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, treating it as a priority.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Our Chief FunctionThis 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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