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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 23.95-98Madhya 23.100

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 23.99

এই রস-আস্বাদ নাহি অভক্তের গণে ।

কৃষ্ণভক্তগণ করে রস আস্বাদনে ॥ ৯৯ ॥

ei rasa-āsvāda nāhi abhaktera gaṇe

kṛṣṇa-bhakta-gaṇa kare rasa āsvādane

Translation

“The exchange between Kṛṣṇa and different devotees situated in different transcendental mellows is not to be experienced by nondevotees. Advanced devotees can understand and appreciate the different varieties of devotional service reciprocated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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.

Devotees Appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s Loving Exchanges

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa exchanges with different devotees situated in different transcendental mellows.

  2. 2

    These exchanges are not to be experienced by nondevotees.

  3. 3

    Advanced devotees can understand and appreciate the different varieties of devotional service reciprocated with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then describes those candidates who are eligible to taste the mellows of devotional service. Their fundamental natures and their varieties are also described.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 23
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. eithis
  2. rasa-āsvādatasting of transcendental mellows
  3. nāhinot
  4. abhaktera gaṇeamong nondevotees
  5. kṛṣṇa-bhakta-gaṇethe pure devotees of Lord Kṛṣṇa
  6. karedo
  7. rasathese transcendental mellows
  8. āsvādanetasting
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “mellows”

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this teaching encourage humility about your present understanding of devotional exchanges?

Practice

Reread the translation and note the distinction between what nondevotees cannot experience and what advanced devotees can appreciate.

Live this todayDevotees Appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s Loving ExchangesThis 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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