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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 22.57-58Madhya 22.60

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.59

পূর্ব আজ্ঞা, — বেদ-ধর্ম, কর্ম, যোগ, জ্ঞান ।

সব সাধি’ শেষে এই আজ্ঞা — বলবান্‌ ॥ ৫৯ ॥

pūrva ājñā, — veda-dharma, karma, yoga, jñāna

saba sādhi’ śeṣe ei ājñā — balavān

Translation

“Although Kṛṣṇa previously explained the proficiency of executing Vedic rituals, performing fruitive activity as enjoined in the Vedas, practicing yoga and cultivating jñāna, these last instructions are most powerful and stand above all the others.

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.

Kṛṣṇa’s Last Instructions Stand Above the Others

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa previously explained the proficiency of executing Vedic rituals and performing fruitive activity enjoined in the Vedas.

  2. 2

    He also explained practicing yoga and cultivating jñāna.

  3. 3

    His last instructions are most powerful and stand above all these earlier teachings.

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. pūrva ājñāprevious orders
  2. veda-dharmaperformance of Vedic ritualistic ceremonies
  3. karmafruitive activities
  4. yogamystic yoga practice
  5. jñānaspeculative knowledge
  6. saba sādhi’executing all these processes
  7. śeṣeat the end
  8. ei ājñāthis order
  9. balavānpowerful
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I giving Kṛṣṇa’s most powerful instructions the importance they deserve?

Practice

Read the translation again and identify which instructions it places above the others.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Last Instructions Stand Above the OthersThis 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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