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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 25: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas
Madhya 25.115Madhya 25.117

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.116

এই সব শব্দে হয় — ‘জ্ঞান’-‘বিজ্ঞান’-বিবেক ।

মায়া-কার্য, মায়া হৈতে আমি — ব্যতিরেক ॥ ১১৬ ॥

ei saba śabde haya — ‘jñāna’-‘vijñāna’-viveka

māyā-kārya, māyā haite āmi — vyatireka

Translation

“[Lord Kṛṣṇa continued:] ‘Actual spiritual knowledge and its practical application are considered in all these sound vibrations. Although the external energy comes from Me, I am different from it.

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.

Kṛṣṇa Is Distinct From His External Energy

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa explains that these sound vibrations concern actual spiritual knowledge.

  2. 2

    They also concern the practical application of that knowledge. Understanding and application are both included.

  3. 3

    The external energy comes from Kṛṣṇa, yet He is different from it.

How it feels

Reconciliation and broad mercy. Opponents turn toward bhakti; the Lord returns to Purī and embraces devotees.

The mood of Madhya 25 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 25: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to take a bath at Pañcanada, and afterwards all His devotees began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in front of the temple of Bindu Mādhava. At this time Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī and all his devotees approached the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 25
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. ei sabaall these
  2. śabdein the words
  3. hayathere is
  4. jñānaof real spiritual knowledge
  5. vijñānaof the practical application of the knowledge
  6. vivekaconsideration
  7. māyā-kāryathe activities of the external energy
  8. māyā haitefrom the activities of the material energy
  9. āmiI
  10. vyatirekadistinct
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I distinguish between Kṛṣṇa and the external energy that comes from Him?

Practice

Read the final sentence twice, noting both that the energy comes from Kṛṣṇa and that He is different from it.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Is Distinct From His External EnergyThis 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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