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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
  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 22.18Madhya 22.20

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.19

নৈষ্কর্ম্যমপ্যচ্যুতভাব-বর্জিতং

ন শোভতে জ্ঞানমলং নিরঞ্জনম্‌ ।

কুতঃ পুনঃ শশ্বদভদ্রমীশ্বরে

ন চার্পিতং কর্ম যদপ্যকারণম্‌ ॥ ১৯ ॥

naiṣkarmyam apy acyuta-bhāva-varjitaṁ

na śobhate jñānam alaṁ nirañjanam

kutaḥ punaḥ śaśvad abhadram īśvare

na cārpitaṁ karma yad apy akāraṇam

Translation

“ ‘When pure knowledge is beyond all material affinity but is not dedicated to the Supreme Personality of Godhead [Kṛṣṇa], it does not appear very beautiful, although it is knowledge without a material tinge. What, then, is the use of fruitive activities — which are naturally painful from the beginning and transient by nature — if they are not utilized for the devotional service of the Lord? How can they be very attractive?’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dedicate Knowledge and Activity to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Even knowledge free from material affinity does not appear beautiful unless it is dedicated to Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Fruitive activities are painful from the beginning and temporary. Without being used in the Lord’s devotional service, how can they be attractive?

  3. 3

    Vyāsadeva felt morose even after writing many Vedic literatures. Nārada advised him to write about the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s activities, and he began writing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore his spiritual master, Nāradadeva, told him that he could be happy by writing about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Up to that time, Śrīla Vyāsadeva had written the karma-kāṇḍa and jñāna-kāṇḍa sections of the Vedas, but he had not written about upāsanā-kāṇḍa, or bhakti.
  • Thus his spiritual master, Nārada, chastised him and advised him to write about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 22.19 quotesSB 1.5.12

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.5.12).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

In the beginning He describes the truth about the living entity and the superexcellence of devotional service. He then describes the uselessness of mental speculation and mystic yoga.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. naiṣkarmyamwhich does not produce enjoyment of the resultant action
  2. apialthough
  3. acyuta-bhāvaof devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. varjitamdevoid
  5. nanot
  6. śobhatelooks beautiful
  7. jñānamspeculative knowledge
  8. alamexceedingly
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”

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 can what I learn become dedicated to Kṛṣṇa rather than remain knowledge alone?

Practice

Spend a few minutes reading about the activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 todayDedicate Knowledge and Activity to 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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