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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 24.96Madhya 24.98

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 24.97

সাধুসঙ্গ-কৃপা কিম্বা কৃষ্ণের কৃপায় ।

কামাদি ‘দুঃসঙ্গ’ ছাড়ি’ শুদ্ধভক্তি পায় ॥ ৯৭ ॥

sādhu-saṅga-kṛpā kimvā kṛṣṇera kṛpāya

kāmādi ‘duḥsaṅga’ chāḍi’ śuddha-bhakti pāya

Translation

“One is elevated to the platform of devotional life by the mercy of a Vaiṣṇava, the bona fide spiritual master, and by the special mercy of Kṛṣṇa. On that platform, one gives up all material desires and the association of unwanted people. Thus one is elevated to the platform of pure devotional 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 Leads to Pure Devotional Service

  1. 1

    One is elevated to devotional life by the mercy of a Vaiṣṇava, the bona fide spiritual master, and the special mercy of Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    On this platform, one gives up material desires and unwanted association.

  3. 3

    Through this mercy and purification, one reaches the platform of pure devotional 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. sādhu-saṅga-kṛpāby the mercy of association with devotees
  2. kimvāor
  3. kṛṣṇera kṛpāyaby the mercy of Kṛṣṇa
  4. kāma-ādimaterial desires and so on
  5. duḥsaṅgaunwanted association
  6. chāḍi’giving up
  7. śuddha-bhakti pāyaone obtains the platform of pure devotional life
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”

  • 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

What desire or association draws my attention away from devotional service?

Practice

Today, set aside one activity that feeds a material desire and use that time for devotional service.

Live this todayMercy Leads to Pure 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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