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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 23.82-83Madhya 23.86

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Madhya 23.84-85

লীলা প্রেম্ণা প্রিয়াধিক্যং মাধুর্যং বেণুরূপয়োঃ ।

ইত্যসাধারণং প্রোক্তং গোবিন্দস্য চতুষ্টয়ম্ ॥ ৮৪ ॥

līlā premṇā priyādhikyaṁ

mādhuryaṁ veṇu-rūpayoḥ

ity asādhāraṇaṁ proktaṁ

govindasya catuṣṭayam

Translation

“ ‘Above Nārāyaṇa, Kṛṣṇa has four specific transcendental qualities — His wonderful pastimes, an abundance of wonderful associates who are very dear to Him [like the gopīs], His wonderful beauty and the wonderful vibration of His flute. Lord Kṛṣṇa is more exalted than ordinary living beings and demigods like Lord Śiva. He is even more exalted than His personal expansion Nārāyaṇa. In all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has sixty-four transcendental qualities in full.’

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.

Kṛṣṇa Possesses Sixty-Four Qualities in Full

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa has four specific qualities beyond Nārāyaṇa: wonderful pastimes, wonderful dear associates like the gopīs, wonderful beauty, and the wonderful vibration of His flute.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa is more exalted than ordinary living beings and demigods like Lord Śiva. He is even more exalted than His personal expansion Nārāyaṇa.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses all sixty-four transcendental qualities in full.

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:

There is also a description of the sixty-four transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa and the twenty-five transcendental qualities of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then describes those candidates who are eligible to taste the mellows of devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 23
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. līlāpastimes
  2. premṇāwith transcendental love
  3. priya-ādhikyaman abundance of highly elevated devotees
  4. mādhuryamsweetness
  5. veṇu-rūpayoḥof the flute and the beauty of Kṛṣṇa
  6. itithus
  7. asādhāraṇamuncommon
  8. proktamsaid
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “gopīs”

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “associates”

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 the phrase “in full” help you appreciate about Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Recall the four specific qualities of Kṛṣṇa, then check your recollection against the translation.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Possesses Sixty-Four Qualities in FullThis 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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