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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 22.41Madhya 22.43

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.42

স্থানাভিলাষী তপসি স্থিতোঽহং

ত্বাং প্রাপ্তবান্‌ দেবমুনীন্দ্রগুহ্যম্‌ ।

কাচং বিচিন্বন্নপি দিব্যরত্নং

স্বামিন্‌ কৃতার্থোঽস্মি বরং ন যাচে ॥ ৪২ ॥

sthānābhilāṣī tapasi sthito ’haṁ

tvāṁ prāptavān deva-munīndra-guhyam

kācaṁ vicinvann api divya-ratnaṁ

svāmin kṛtārtho ’smi varaṁ na yāce

Translation

“[When he was being blessed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said:] ‘O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Finding the Lord Brings Full Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Dhruva Mahārāja performed severe penance and austerity because he wanted an opulent material position.

  2. 2

    Having attained the Lord, who is difficult even for great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain, he compared his former desire to a piece of glass and the Lord to a most valuable jewel.

  3. 3

    He became so satisfied that he no longer wished to ask the Lord for any benediction.

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. sthāna-abhilāṣīdesiring a very high position in the material world
  2. tapasiin severe austerities and penances
  3. sthitaḥsituated
  4. ahamI
  5. tvāmYou
  6. prāptavānhave obtained
  7. deva-muni-indra-guhyamdifficult to achieve even for great demigods, saintly persons and kings
  8. kācama piece of glass
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “saintly”

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “blessed”

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 does Dhruva Mahārāja’s satisfaction challenge what I hope to gain from devotion?

Practice

Today, offer a prayer of appreciation to the Lord without asking for a material benefit.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

Quoted in 53 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 53 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 todayFinding the Lord Brings Full SatisfactionThis 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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