1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
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 23.4 Madhya 23.6

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.5

শুদ্ধসত্ত্ববিশেষাত্মা প্রেম-সূর্যাংশু-সাম্যভাক্‌ ।

রুচিভিশ্চিত্তম সৃণ্যকৃদসৌ ভাব উচ্যতে ॥ ৫ ॥

śuddha-sattva-viśeṣātmā

prema-sūryāṁśu-sāmya-bhāk

rucibhiś citta-masṛṇya-

kṛd asau bhāva ucyate

Translation

“ ‘When devotional service is executed on the transcendental platform of pure goodness, it is like a sun-ray of love for Kṛṣṇa. At such a time, devotional service causes the heart to be softened by various tastes, and one is then situated in bhāva [emotion].’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Bhāva Softens the Heart

1
Devotional service on the transcendental platform of pure goodness is like a sun-ray of love for Kṛṣṇa.
2
At this stage, devotional service softens the heart through various tastes.
3
One is then situated in bhāva, or emotion. The purport identifies this teaching as coming from the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu.

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

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

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

In this chapter Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu describes the symptoms of emotion and love and the awakening of one’s original loving relationship with the Lord, as well as the characteristics of a devotee who has actually attained that stage. He then describes the gradual increase of love of God up to the point of mahābhāva.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 23

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

śuddha-sattvaby unadulterated goodness
viśeṣadistinguished
ātmāwhose nature
premaof love of God
sūryalike the sun
aṁśua ray
sāmya-bhākwhich is similar to
rucibhiḥby different tastes

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

Prema · Love of Godhead
The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “love for krsna”
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: “bhāva”
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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the image of a sun-ray help me understand about bhāva?

Practice

Write one sentence connecting pure goodness, love for Kṛṣṇa, and the softening of the heart.

Live this todayBhāva Softens the HeartThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 23.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters