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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 22.77Madhya 22.81

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Madhya 22.78-80

কৃপালু, অকৃতদ্রোহ, সত্যসার সম ।

নিদোষ, বদান্য, মৃদু, শুচি, অকিঞ্চন ॥ ৭৮ ॥

kṛpālu, akṛta-droha, satya-sāra sama

nidoṣa, vadānya, mṛdu, śuci, akiñcana

Translation

“Devotees are always merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless, magnanimous, mild and clean. They are without material possessions, and they perform welfare work for everyone. They are peaceful, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa and desireless. They are indifferent to material acquisitions and are fixed in devotional service. They completely control the six bad qualities — lust, anger, greed and so forth. They eat only as much as required, and they are not inebriated. They are respectful, grave, compassionate and without false prestige. They are friendly, poetic, expert and silent.

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.

The Qualities of Devotees

  1. 1

    Devotees are merciful, humble, truthful, equal to all, faultless, magnanimous, mild and clean. They perform welfare work for everyone and are respectful, compassionate, friendly and without false prestige.

  2. 2

    They are peaceful, surrendered to Kṛṣṇa, desireless and fixed in devotional service. They are without material possessions and indifferent to material acquisitions.

  3. 3

    They completely control the six bad qualities, including lust, anger and greed, eat only as much as required and are not inebriated. They are grave, poetic, expert and silent.

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:

The six symptoms of fully surrendered souls are also described in this chapter. Devotional service has been divided into two categories — regulative devotional service and spontaneous love.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 22
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kṛpālumerciful
  2. akṛta-drohanot defiant
  3. satya-sārathoroughly truthful
  4. samaequal
  5. nidoṣafaultless
  6. vadānyamagnanimous
  7. mṛdumild
  8. śuciclean
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Dainya & humility · Making room for grace

    The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “humble”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

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

    In this verse: “surrendered”

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “service”

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

Which of these qualities most clearly shows you an area where you can grow?

Practice

At one meal today, eat only as much as you require.

Live this todayThe Qualities of DevoteesThis 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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