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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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.121

‘ধর্মাদি’ বিষয়ে যৈছে এ ‘চারি’ বিচার ।

সাধন-ভক্তি — এই চারি বিচারের পার ॥ ১২১ ॥

‘dharmādi’ viṣaye yaiche e ‘cāri’ vicāra

sādhana-bhakti — ei cāri vicārera pāra

Translation

“ ‘As far as religious principles are concerned, there is a consideration of the person, the country, the time and the circumstance. In devotional service, however, there are no such considerations. Devotional service is transcendental to all such considerations.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Transcends Religious Differences

  1. 1

    On the material platform, religious principles differ according to the person, country, time and circumstance.

  2. 2

    The transcendental service of the Lord, sādhana-bhakti, is above these limited considerations.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches that religious unity can be achieved on the common platform of transcendental devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • These may be considered on the material platform, but when we come to the platform of transcendental devotional service, there are no such considerations.
  • The transcendental service of the Lord (sādhana-bhakti) is above these principles.
  • The world is anxious for religious unity, and that common platform can be achieved in transcendental devotional service.

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 25.121 quotesBG 14.26

This is confirmed by Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Bhagavad-gītā (14.26):

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

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:

He asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu about devotional service in terms of the Vedānta-sūtra, and the Lord told him about devotional service that is approved by great personalities who know the Vedānta-sūtra. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then pointed out that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the proper commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 25
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. dharma-ādiof religious activities and so on
  2. viṣayein the subject matter
  3. yaichejust as
  4. e cāri vicārathere is a consideration of four principles, namely the person, country, time and atmosphere
  5. sādhana-bhaktiof devotional service
  6. eithese
  7. cārifour
  8. vicārerato the considerations
  9. pāratranscendental
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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 might seeing devotional service as a common platform change how you regard people of different religions?

Practice

Today, notice one religious difference without judging the person, and recall that devotional service is above such limited considerations.

Live this todayDevotional Service Transcends Religious DifferencesThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 25.121? Get an answer from the verses themselves.