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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 23.113Madhya 23.115

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.114

চীরাণি কিং পথি ন সন্তি দিশন্তি ভিক্ষাং

নৈবাঙ্ঘ্রিপাঃ পরভৃতঃ সরিতোঽপ্যশুষ্যন্ ।

রুদ্ধা গুহাঃ কিমজিতোঽবতি নোপসন্নান্

কস্মাদ্ভজন্তি কবয়ো ধনদুর্মদান্ধান্ ॥ ১১৪ ॥

cīrāṇi kiṁ pathi na santi diśanti bhikṣāṁ

naivāṅghri-pāḥ para-bhṛtaḥ sarito ’py aśuṣyan

ruddhā guhāḥ kim ajito ’vati nopasannān

kasmād bhajanti kavayo dhana-durmadāndhān

Translation

“ ‘Are there no torn clothes lying on the common road? Do the trees, which exist for maintaining others, no longer give alms in charity? Do the rivers, being dried up, no longer supply water to the thirsty? Are the caves of the mountains now closed, or, above all, does the unconquerable Supreme Personality of Godhead not protect the fully surrendered souls? Why then should learned persons like devotees go to flatter those who are intoxicated by hard-earned wealth?’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Need Not Depend on Wealth

  1. 1

    A devotee should be independent in all circumstances. The body's necessities are shelter, food, water and clothing.

  2. 2

    By nature's arrangements, necessities are supplied to the devotee completely surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who protects surrendered souls.

  3. 3

    A devotee need not flatter those intoxicated by wealth to maintain the body. Devotional service can be discharged in any condition.

Key points from the purport
  • To maintain the body, we require shelter, food, water and clothing, and all these necessities can be obtained without approaching puffed-up rich men.
  • One can collect old garments that have been thrown out, one can eat fruits offered by the trees, one can drink water from the rivers, and one can live within the caves of mountains.
  • By nature’s arrangements, shelter, clothing and food are supplied to the devotee who is completely surrendered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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

Connected verses· 2

The purport of CC Madhya 23.114 quotesSB 2.2.5

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.2.5).

The purport of CC Madhya 23.114 quotesSB 1.2.6

This is the version of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6):

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. cīrāṇitorn old clothes
  2. kimwhether
  3. pathion the path
  4. nanot
  5. santiare
  6. diśantigive
  7. bhikṣāmalms
  8. nanot
3

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: “surrendered”, “shelter”

  • 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

Am I treating material comfort or wealthy people's approval as a requirement for devotional service?

Practice

Do one act of devotional service today using what you already have, without waiting for better material conditions.

Live this todayDevotional Service Need Not Depend on WealthThis 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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