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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

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
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 24.217 Madhya 24.219

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 24.218

দেহারামী, সর্বকাম — সব আত্মারাম ।

কৃষ্ণকৃপায় কৃষ্ণ ভজে ছাড়ি’ সব কাম ॥ ২১৮ ॥

dehārāmī, sarva-kāma — saba ātmārāma

kṛṣṇa-kṛpāya kṛṣṇa bhaje chāḍi’ saba kāma

Translation

“As long as one labors under the bodily conception, he must fulfill volumes and volumes of material desires. Thus a person is called ātmārāma. When such an ātmārāma is favored by the mercy of Kṛṣṇa, he gives up his so-called self-satisfaction and engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy Turns Self-Satisfaction Toward Service

1
As long as one remains under the bodily conception, one must fulfill volumes of material desires.
2
In this explanation, a person seeking such satisfaction is called ātmārāma.
3
When favored by Kṛṣṇa’s mercy, this ātmārāma gives up so-called self-satisfaction and engages in the Lord’s transcendental loving 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

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 summary Back to this verse in Madhya 24

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

dehārāmīpersons who are in the bodily concept of life
sarva-kāmafull of all material desires
sabaall
ātmārāmaenjoying self-satisfaction
kṛṣṇa-kṛpāyaby the mercy of Kṛṣṇa
kṛṣṇa bhajebecome engaged in the devotional service of Lord Kṛṣṇa
chāḍi’ saba kāmagiving up all sorts of material desires

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”, “favored”
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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which desire for personal satisfaction could you set aside to make room for service?

Practice

Set aside one small personal preference today and use that moment for loving service to Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Mercy Turns Self-Satisfaction Toward 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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