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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 22.30Madhya 22.32

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.31

কৃষ্ণ — সূর্যসম, মায়া হয় অন্ধকার ।

যাহাঁ কৃষ্ণ, তাহাঁ নাহি মায়ার অধিকার ॥ ৩১ ॥

kṛṣṇa — sūrya-sama; māyā haya andhakāra

yāhāṅ kṛṣṇa, tāhāṅ nāhi māyāra adhikāra

Translation

“Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness. Wherever there is sunshine, there cannot be darkness. As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion (the influence of the external energy) will immediately vanish.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Dispels Illusion

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is compared to sunshine, and māyā is compared to darkness.

  2. 2

    Wherever there is sunshine, darkness cannot remain.

  3. 3

    As soon as one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the darkness of illusion—the influence of the external energy—immediately vanishes.

Connected verses· 4

The purport of CC Madhya 22.31 quotesSB 2.9.34

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.9.34) it is stated:

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.30.5

As stated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.31): The Lord is just like the effulgent sun.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 7.8.24

It is stated in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.31): “Godhead is light.

Quoted in the purport ofCC Ādi 13.5

The Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.31) states:

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:

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. kṛṣṇaKṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. sūrya-samalike the sun planet
  3. māyāthe illusory energy
  4. hayais
  5. andhakāradarkness
  6. yāhāṅ kṛṣṇawherever there is Kṛṣṇa
  7. tāhāṅthere
  8. nāhinot
  9. māyāraof māyā, or the darkness of illusion
  10. adhikārathe jurisdiction
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the comparison of Kṛṣṇa to sunshine teach me about freedom from illusion?

Practice

Pause today to turn your attention to Kṛṣṇa and reflect on the image of sunshine dispelling darkness.

4

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 28 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 28 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Consciousness Dispels IllusionThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 22.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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