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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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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 23.7Madhya 23.9

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.8

অনন্যমমতা বিষ্ণৌ মমতা প্রেমসঙ্গতা ।

ভক্তিরিত্যুচ্যতে ভীষ্মপ্রহ্লাদোদ্ধব-নারদৈঃ ॥ ৮ ॥

ananya-mamatā viṣṇau

mamatā prema-saṅgatā

bhaktir ity ucyate bhīṣma-

prahlādoddhava-nāradaiḥ

Translation

“ ‘When one develops an unflinching sense of ownership or possessiveness in relation to Lord Viṣṇu, or, in other words, when one thinks Viṣṇu and no one else to be the only object of love, such an awakening is called bhakti [devotion] by exalted persons like Bhīṣma, Prahlāda, Uddhava and Nārada.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Viṣṇu as the Only Object of Love

  1. 1

    Devotion involves an unflinching sense of ownership or possessiveness in relation to Lord Viṣṇu.

  2. 2

    This means thinking of Viṣṇu, and no one else, as the only object of love.

  3. 3

    Exalted persons like Bhīṣma, Prahlāda, Uddhava and Nārada call this awakening bhakti, or devotion.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse, quoted from the Nārada-pañcarātra, is found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (1.4.2).

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 23
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. ananya-mamatāhaving a sense of relationships with no others
  2. viṣṇauin Lord Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa
  3. mamatāthe sense of ownership
  4. prema-saṅgatāendowed only with love
  5. bhaktiḥdevotional service
  6. itithus
  7. ucyateis said
  8. bhīṣmaby Bhīṣma
3

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”

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 does unflinching devotion to Lord Viṣṇu mean for the direction of my love?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute reflecting on Lord Viṣṇu as the only object of love described in this verse.

Live this todayViṣṇu as the Only Object of LoveThis 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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