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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 24.187Madhya 24.189

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 24.188

কৃষ্ণকৃপায় সাধুসঙ্গে রতি-বুদ্ধি পায় ।

সব ছাড়ি’ শুদ্ধভক্তি করে কৃষ্ণপায় ॥ ১৮৮ ॥

kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya sādhu-saṅge rati-buddhi pāya

saba chāḍi’ śuddha-bhakti kare kṛṣṇa-pāya

Translation

“By the mercy of Kṛṣṇa and by the association of devotees, one increases his attraction to and intelligence for pure devotional service; therefore one gives up everything and engages himself at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees.

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 and Association Deepen Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa’s mercy and the association of devotees increase attraction to pure devotional service.

  2. 2

    Through that mercy and association, intelligence for devotional service also increases.

  3. 3

    One therefore gives up everything and engages at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa and His pure devotees.

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. kṛṣṇa-kṛpāyaby the mercy of Kṛṣṇa
  2. sādhu-saṅgein the association of devotees
  3. rati-buddhidevotional attraction and intelligence
  4. pāyaone obtains
  5. saba chāḍi’giving up everything
  6. śuddha-bhaktipure devotional service
  7. kareperforms
  8. kṛṣṇa-pāyaat the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa
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”

  • 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: “association”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

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 can I make more room for the association of devotees?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today speaking with a devotee about pure devotional service.

Live this todayMercy and Association Deepen Devotional 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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