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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 22.26Madhya 22.28

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.27

মুখবাহূরুপাদেভ্যঃ পুরুষস্যাশ্রমৈঃ সহ ।

চত্বারো জজ্ঞিরে বর্ণা গুণৈর্বিপ্রাদয়ঃ পৃথক্‌ ॥ ২৭ ॥

mukha-bāhūru-pādebhyaḥ

puruṣasyāśramaiḥ saha

catvāro jajñire varṇā

guṇair viprādayaḥ pṛthak

Translation

“ ‘From the mouth of Brahmā, the brahminical order has come into existence. Similarly, from his arms the kṣatriyas have come, from his waist the vaiśyas have come, and from his legs the śūdras have come. These four orders and their spiritual counterparts [brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa] combine to make human society complete.

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.

Social and Spiritual Orders Complete Society

  1. 1

    The brahminical order comes from Brahmā’s mouth, and the kṣatriyas come from his arms.

  2. 2

    The vaiśyas come from Brahmā’s waist, and the śūdras come from his legs.

  3. 3

    These four social orders combine with brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa to make human society complete.

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:

The speculative method of the so-called jñānīs is considered a waste of time, and that is proved in this chapter. An intelligent person should abandon the processes of karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa 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. mukhathe mouth
  2. bāhuthe arms
  3. ūruthe thighs
  4. pādebhyaḥfrom the legs
  5. puruṣasyaof the Supreme Person
  6. āśramaiḥthe different spiritual orders
  7. sahawith
  8. catvāraḥthe four
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this description help me see society as having both social and spiritual dimensions?

Practice

Write down the four social orders and the four spiritual orders in two lists.

4

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todaySocial and Spiritual Orders Complete SocietyThis 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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