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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

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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 23.108Madhya 23.110

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.109

অনপেক্ষঃ শুচির্দক্ষ উদাসীনো গতব্যথঃ ।

সর্বারম্ভপরিত্যাগী যো মে ভক্তঃ স মে প্রিয়ঃ ॥ ১০৯ ॥

anapekṣaḥ śucir dakṣa

udāsīno gata-vyathaḥ

sarvārambha-parityāgī

yo me bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Translation

“ ‘A devotee who is not dependent on others but is dependent solely on Me, who is clean inwardly and outwardly, who is expert, indifferent to material things, without cares and free from all pains, and who rejects all pious and impious activities is very dear to Me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Depend on Kṛṣṇa and Cultivate Cleanliness

  1. 1

    Anapekṣa means not depending on mundane people but depending solely on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The devotee should be free from material desires.

  2. 2

    A devotee should be clean both within and without. The purport recommends regular bathing with soap and oil for outward cleanliness and absorption in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa for inward cleanliness.

  3. 3

    The devotee dear to Kṛṣṇa is expert, indifferent to material things, and free from cares and pains. Sarvārambha-parityāgī indicates having no interest in the so-called smārta-vidhi of pious and impious activities.

Key points from the purport
  • One should depend solely on the Supreme Personality of Godhead and be free from material desires.
  • To be outwardly clean, one should regularly bathe with soap and oil, and to be inwardly clean one should always be absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa.
  • The words sarvārambha-parityāgī indicate that one should not be interested in the so-called smārta-vidhi of pious and impious activities.

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:

All these instructions are mentioned herein. In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu blessed Sanātana Gosvāmī, placing His hand on his head.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 23
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. anapekṣaḥindifferent
  2. śuciḥclean
  3. dakṣaḥexpert in executing devotional service
  4. udāsīnaḥwithout affection for anything material
  5. gata-vyathaḥliberated from all material distress
  6. sarva-ārambhaall kinds of endeavor
  7. parityāgīcompletely rejecting
  8. yaḥanyone who
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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: “dependent”, “depending”

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

Am I giving inward cleanliness as much attention as outward cleanliness?

Practice

Alongside your bathing today, set aside a quiet minute to absorb your thoughts in Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayDepend on Kṛṣṇa and Cultivate CleanlinessThis 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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