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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 22.27Madhya 22.29

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.28

য এষাং পুরুষং সাক্ষাদাত্মপ্রভবমীশ্বরম্‌ ।

ন ভজন্ত্যবজানন্তি স্থানাদ্‌ভ্রষ্টাঃ পতন্ত্যধঃ ॥ ২৮ ॥

ya eṣāṁ puruṣaṁ sākṣād

ātma-prabhavam īśvaram

na bhajanty avajānanti

sthānād bhraṣṭāḥ patanty adhaḥ

Translation

“ ‘If one simply maintains an official position in the four varṇas and āśramas but does not worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, he falls down from his puffed-up position into a hellish condition.’

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.

Position Cannot Replace Worship

  1. 1

    One may maintain an official position within the four varṇas and āśramas.

  2. 2

    That position does not replace worship of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    Without such worship, one falls from a puffed-up position into a hellish condition.

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:

If one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness fully, even though he may sometimes be agitated due to having previously practiced mental speculation and yogic mysticism, he will be saved by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself. The fact is that devotional service is bestowed by the blessings of a pure devotee ( sa mahātmā su-durlabhaḥ ) .
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yeanyone who
  2. eṣāmof those divisions of social and spiritual orders
  3. puruṣamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. sākṣātdirectly
  5. ātma-prabhavamthe source of everyone
  6. īśvaramthe supreme controller
  7. nanot
  8. bhajantiworship
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I place more importance on my position than on worship of the Lord?

Practice

Take a moment today to worship the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu, setting aside thoughts of your own status.

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 todayPosition Cannot Replace WorshipThis 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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