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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 24: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse
Madhya 24.115Madhya 24.117

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 24.116

ব্যাসকৃপায় শুকদেবের লীলাদি-স্মরণ ।

কৃষ্ণগুণাকৃষ্ট হঞা করেন ভজন ॥ ১১৬ ॥

vyāsa-kṛpāya śukadevera līlādi-smaraṇa

kṛṣṇa-guṇākṛṣṭa hañā karena bhajana

Translation

“By the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī was attracted by the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Being thus attracted by Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities, he also became a devotee and engaged in His service.

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.

Mercy Awakens Attraction and Service

  1. 1

    By the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī became attracted by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental qualities drew Śukadeva Gosvāmī toward devotion.

  3. 3

    He became a devotee and engaged in Kṛṣṇa’s service.

How it feels

Intellectual wonder humbled. Many explanations converge on the attractiveness of devotion; a hunter’s heart is transformed.

The mood of Madhya 24 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 24: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Ātmārāma Verse

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

He then concluded that different classes of transcendentalists ( jñānīs, karmīs, yogīs ) utilize this verse according to their own interpretation, but if they would give up this process and surrender to Kṛṣṇa, as indicated by the verse itself, they would be able to comprehend the real meaning of the verse.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 24
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. vyāsa-kṛpāyaby the mercy of Śrīla Vyāsadeva
  2. śukadeveraof Śukadeva Gosvāmī
  3. līlā-ādi-smaraṇaremembrance of the transcendental pastimes of Kṛṣṇa
  4. kṛṣṇa-guṇa-ākṛṣṭaattracted by the transcendental qualities of Kṛṣṇa
  5. hañābecoming
  6. karenaperformed
  7. bhajanaloving service
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • 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 verse connect mercy, attraction to Kṛṣṇa, and service?

Practice

Write down the progression described here: mercy, attraction to Kṛṣṇa, and devotional service.

Live this todayMercy Awakens Attraction and ServiceThis 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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