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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 23.117-118Madhya 23.120

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.119

তবে সনাতন প্রভুর চরণে ধরিয়া ।

নিবেদন করে দন্তে তৃণ-গুচ্ছ লঞা ॥ ১১৯ ॥

tabe sanātana prabhura caraṇe dhariyā

nivedana kare dante tṛṇa-guccha lañā

Translation

Sanātana Gosvāmī then humbly accepted his position as lower than a piece of straw, and symbolically holding some straw in his mouth, he fell down, clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and submitted the following petition.

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.

Approach the Lord With Humility

  1. 1

    Sanātana Gosvāmī humbly accepted his position as lower than a piece of straw.

  2. 2

    Symbolically holding straw in his mouth, he fell down and clasped the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

  3. 3

    In this humble position, he submitted his petition to the Lord.

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:

In this way Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu blessed Sanātana Gosvāmī, placing His hand on his head. Thus Sanātana received the power to describe these subjects in books like Hari-bhakti-vilāsa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 23
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tabeat that time
  2. sanātanaSanātana Gosvāmī
  3. prabhuraof Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  4. caraṇe dhariyācatching the lotus feet
  5. nivedana karesubmits a petition
  6. dantein the teeth
  7. tṛṇa-gucchaa bunch of straw
  8. lañātaking
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: “lower than”, “humble”

  • 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 can I learn from Sanātana Gosvāmī's humility when approaching the Lord?

Practice

Offer one brief petition to the Lord today with a conscious attitude of humility.

Live this todayApproach the Lord With HumilityThis 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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