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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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.6

শ্রুতির্মাতা-পৃষ্টা দিশতি ভবদারাধনবিধিং

যথা মাতুর্বাণী স্মৃতিরপি তথা বক্তি ভগিনী ।

পুরাণাদ্যা যে বা সহজনিবহাস্তে তদনুগা

অতঃ সত্যং জ্ঞাতং মুরহর ভবানেব শরণম্‌ ॥ ৬ ॥

śrutir mātā pṛṣṭā diśati bhavad-ārādhana-vidhiṁ

yathā mātur vāṇī smṛtir api tathā vakti bhaginī

purāṇādyā ye vā sahaja-nivahās te tad-anugā

ataḥ satyaṁ jñātaṁ mura-hara bhavān eva śaraṇam

Translation

“ ‘When the mother Vedas [śruti] is questioned as to whom to worship, she says that You are the only Lord and worshipable object. Similarly, the corollaries of the śruti-śāstras, the smṛti-śāstras, give the same instructions, just like sisters. The Purāṇas, which are like brothers, follow in the footsteps of their mother. O enemy of the demon Mura, the conclusion is that You are the only shelter. Now I have understood this in truth.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Scriptures Agree on the Only Shelter

  1. 1

    Great sages spoke this quotation to the Lord. The mother Vedas, or śruti, declare Him the only Lord and worshipable object.

  2. 2

    The smṛti-śāstras give the same instructions, like sisters. The Purāṇas, like brothers, follow their mother’s footsteps.

  3. 3

    Their shared conclusion is that the Lord is the only shelter. The speaker declares that this has now been understood in truth.

Key points from the purport
  • This quotation from the Vedic literature was spoken to the Lord by great sages.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

In the beginning He describes the truth about the living entity and the superexcellence of devotional service. He then describes the uselessness of mental speculation and mystic yoga.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. śrutiḥVedic knowledge
  2. mātālike a mother who is affectionate to her children
  3. pṛṣṭāwhen questioned
  4. diśatishe directs
  5. bhavatof You
  6. ārādhanaworship
  7. vidhimthe process
  8. yathājust as
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

What does it mean for you to recognize the Lord as your only shelter?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer today acknowledging the Lord as your worshipable object and only shelter.

5

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

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 todayThe Scriptures Agree on the Only ShelterThis 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 22.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.