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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 23.119Madhya 23.121

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.120

“নীচজাতি, নীচসেবী, মুঞি — সুপামর ।

সিদ্ধান্ত শিখাইলা, — যেই ব্রহ্মার অগোচর ॥ ১২০ ॥

“nīca-jāti, nīca-sevī, muñi — supāmara

siddhānta śikhāilā, — yei brahmāra agocara

Translation

Sanātana Gosvāmī said, “My dear Lord, I am a very lowborn person. Indeed, I am a servant to lowborn people; therefore I am very, very downtrodden. Nonetheless, You have taught me conclusions unknown even to Lord Brahmā.

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.

Humbly Recognize the Gift of the Lord's Teachings

  1. 1

    Sanātana Gosvāmī described himself to the Lord as a very lowborn person and a servant to lowborn people.

  2. 2

    He considered himself very, very downtrodden.

  3. 3

    Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the Lord had taught him conclusions unknown even to Lord Brahmā.

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. nīca-jātilower class
  2. nīca-sevīservant of lowborn people
  3. muñiI
  4. supāmaravery, very fallen
  5. siddhānta śikhāilāYou have taught the topmost conclusions in detail
  6. yeiwhich
  7. brahmāraof Brahmā
  8. agocarabeyond the reach
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “servant”

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

How does Sanātana Gosvāmī's response help me appreciate the teachings I receive?

Practice

Recall one conclusion you have learned and offer a humble word of thanks to the Lord.

Live this todayHumbly Recognize the Gift of the Lord's TeachingsThis 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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