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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

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
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 22.82 Madhya 22.84

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 22.83

কৃষ্ণভক্তি-জন্মমূল হয় ‘সাধুসঙ্গ’ ।

কৃষ্ণপ্রেম জন্মে, তেঁহো পুনঃ মুখ্য অঙ্গ ॥ ৮৩ ॥

kṛṣṇa-bhakti-janma-mūla haya ‘sādhu-saṅga’

kṛṣṇa-prema janme, teṅho punaḥ mukhya aṅga

Translation

“The root cause of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa is association with advanced devotees. Even when one’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa awakens, association with devotees is still most essential.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotee Association Remains Essential

1
Association with advanced devotees is the root cause of devotional service to Lord Kṛṣṇa.
2
One’s dormant love for Kṛṣṇa can awaken.
3
Even after that love awakens, association with devotees remains most essential.

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

Madhya 22: The Process of Devotional Service

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

A pure devotee is the supreme transcendentalist, and one has to receive his mercy for one’s dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness to be awakened. One has to associate with pure devotees.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 22

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

kṛṣṇa-bhaktiof devotional service to Kṛṣṇa
janma-mūlathe root cause
hayais
sādhu-saṅgaassociation with advanced devotees
kṛṣṇa-premalove of Kṛṣṇa
janmeawakens
teṅhothat same association with devotees
punaḥagain
mukhya aṅgathe chief principle

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: “association”
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”
Prema · Love of Godhead
The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “love for krsna”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you give association with advanced devotees a more regular place in your life?

Practice

Arrange one opportunity today to spend time with an advanced devotee.

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

Quoted in 30 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 30 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 todayAssociate with devoteesA practice of bhakti taught in this verse

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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