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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 24.87Madhya 24.89

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 24.88

যচ্চ ব্রজন্ত্যনিমিষামৃষভানুবৃত্ত্যা

দূরে-যমা হ্যুপরি নঃ স্পৃহণীয়শীলাঃ ।

ভর্তুর্মিথঃ সুযশসঃ কথনানুরাগ-

বৈক্লব্যবাষ্পকলয়া পুলকীকৃতাঙ্গাঃ ॥ ৮৮ ॥

yac ca vrajanty animiṣām ṛṣabhānuvṛttyā

dūre-yamā hy upari naḥ spṛhaṇīya-śīlāḥ

bhartur mithaḥ su-yaśasaḥ kathanānurāga-

vaiklavya-bāṣpa-kalayā pulakī-kṛtāṅgāḥ

Translation

“ ‘Those who discuss the activities of Lord Kṛṣṇa are on the highest platform of devotional life, and they evince the symptoms of tears in the eyes and bodily jubilation. Such persons discharge devotional service to Kṛṣṇa without practicing the rules and regulations of the mystic yoga system. They possess all spiritual qualities, and they are elevated to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, which exist above us.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Discussing Kṛṣṇa’s Activities Elevates Devotional Life

  1. 1

    Those who discuss Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities are described as being on the highest platform of devotional life. They show tears in their eyes and bodily jubilation.

  2. 2

    Such persons discharge devotional service to Kṛṣṇa without practicing the rules and regulations of the mystic yoga system.

  3. 3

    They possess all spiritual qualities and are elevated to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, which exist above us.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse Lord Brahmā is speaking to all the demigods, who feared the two asuras in Diti’s womb.
  • Lord Brahmā described the Kumāras’ visit to Vaikuṇṭha, and this was again explained by Maitreya, the friend of Vyāsadeva, when he gave instructions to Vidura.

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 24.88 quotesSB 3.15.25

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.15.25).

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 explained this verse in sixty-one different ways. He analyzed all the words and described each word with its different connotations.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 24
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yatwhich
  2. caalso
  3. vrajantigo
  4. animiṣāmof the demigods
  5. ṛṣabha-anuvṛttyāby practicing the best means of spiritual life
  6. dūrekeeping at a distance
  7. yamāḥthe regulative principles
  8. hicertainly
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “discuss”

  • 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 can I make more room in my day for discussing Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities?

Practice

Spend a few minutes discussing an account of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s activities with someone.

Live this todayDiscussing Kṛṣṇa’s Activities Elevates Devotional LifeThis 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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