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Study a Verse

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 24.214Madhya 24.216

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 24.215

কর্মণ্যস্মিন্ননাশ্বাসে ধূমধূম্রাত্মনাং ভবান্ ।

আপায়য়তি গোবিন্দপাদপদ্মাসবং মধু ॥ ২১৫ ॥

karmaṇy asminn anāśvāse

dhūma-dhūmrātmanāṁ bhavān

āpāyayati govinda-

pāda-padmāsavaṁ madhu

Translation

“ ‘We have just begun performing this fruitive activity, a sacrificial fire, but due to the many imperfections in our action, we are not certain of its result. Our bodies have become black from the smoke, but we are factually pleased by the nectar of the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead, Govinda, which you are distributing.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Govinda’s Nectar Surpasses Uncertain Ritual Results

  1. 1

    At Naimiṣāraṇya, the great sages headed by Śaunaka addressed Sūta Gosvāmī, who was speaking about the Lord’s glorious activities.

  2. 2

    The sages were unsure of their sacrifice’s result because of its many imperfections. Covered with black ash from the smoke, they neglected to complete the ritualistic ceremonies.

  3. 3

    Although the ritual’s result was uncertain, they were truly pleased by the nectar of Govinda’s lotus feet that Sūta Gosvāmī was distributing.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.12) was spoken to Sūta Gosvāmī at the meeting of great sages at Naimiṣāraṇya.
  • The great sages were headed by Śaunaka, and Sūta Gosvāmī was speaking of the glorious activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead at that meeting.
  • All the performers were coated with black ash due to the large amount of smoke coming from the fire.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 24.215 quotesSB 1.18.12

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.18.12) was spoken to Sūta Gosvāmī at the meeting of great sages at Naimiṣāraṇya.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. karmaṇiin fruitive activity
  2. asminin this
  3. anāśvāsealthough not positive in result
  4. dhūma-dhūmra-ātmanāmwhose bodies are simply becoming blackish because of smoke
  5. bhavānyou
  6. āpāyayatigive a chance to drink
  7. govinda-pāda-padma-āsavamthe nectarean beverage flowing from the lotus feet of Govinda
  8. madhusweet
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Audārya · Love that moves outward

    The freely offered gift of bhakti and prema, especially through nāma-saṅkīrtana and Mahāprabhu’s compassionate dealings. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “distributing”

  • 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

What draws me more: uncertain rewards from my actions or hearing about Govinda?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today hearing or reading about Govinda’s glorious activities.

Live this todayGovinda’s Nectar Surpasses Uncertain Ritual ResultsThis 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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