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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 23: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead
Madhya 23.99Madhya 23.101

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.100

সর্বথৈব দুরূহোঽয়মভক্তৈর্ভগবদ্রসঃ ।

তৎপাদাম্বুজসর্বস্বৈর্ভক্তৈরেবানুরস্যতে ॥ ১০০ ॥

sarvathaiva durūho ’yam

abhaktair bhagavad-rasaḥ

tat pādāmbuja-sarvasvair

bhaktair evānurasyate

Translation

“ ‘Nondevotees cannot understand the exchange of transcendental mellows between the devotees and the Lord. In all respects, this is very difficult to understand, but one who has dedicated everything to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa can taste the transcendental mellows.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dedication Opens the Taste of Devotional Mellows

  1. 1

    Nondevotees cannot understand the exchange of transcendental mellows between the devotees and the Lord.

  2. 2

    These exchanges are, in all respects, very difficult to understand.

  3. 3

    One who has dedicated everything to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa can taste the transcendental mellows.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.5.131).

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

Theological emotional crescendo. Bhāva, prema, the devotional rasas, and mahābhāva are systematically expounded.

The mood of Madhya 23 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 23: Life’s Ultimate Goal — Love of Godhead

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

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then describes those candidates who are eligible to taste the mellows of devotional service. Their fundamental natures and their varieties are also described.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 23
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. sarvathāin all respects
  2. evacertainly
  3. durūhaḥdifficult to be understood
  4. ayamthis
  5. abhaktaiḥby nondevotees
  6. bhagavat-rasaḥthe exchange of transcendental mellows with the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. tatthat
  8. pāda-ambuja-sarva-svaiḥwhose all in all is the lotus feet
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Bhāva & rasa · The language of sacred feeling

    Transcendental devotional moods and relationships, discussed explicitly in Rāmānanda’s dialogue and the teachings on prema. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “mellows”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

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

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

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 part of your life could you more consciously dedicate to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today specifically for devotional service to Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayDedication Opens the Taste of Devotional MellowsThis 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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