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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

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 25: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

Madhya 25.132 Madhya 25.134

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.133

ভগবানেক আসেদমগ্র আত্মাত্মনাং বিভুঃ ।

আত্মেচ্ছানুগতাবাত্মা অনানামত্যুপলক্ষণঃ ॥ ১৩৩ ॥

bhagavān eka āsedam

agra ātmātmanāṁ vibhuḥ

ātmecchānugatāv ātmā

anānā-maty-upalakṣaṇaḥ

Translation

“ ‘Before the cosmic manifestation was created, the creative propensity was merged in the Supreme Lord’s person. At that time all potencies and manifestations were preserved in His personality. The Lord is the cause of all causes, and He is the all- pervading, self-sufficient person. Before the creation, He existed with His spiritual potency in the spiritual world, wherein various Vaikuṇṭha planets are manifested.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supreme Lord Exists Before Creation

1
Before the cosmic manifestation was created, the creative propensity was merged in the Supreme Lord’s person. All potencies and manifestations were preserved in His personality.
2
The Lord is the cause of all causes. He is all-pervading and self-sufficient.
3
Before creation, He existed with His spiritual potency in the spiritual world, where various Vaikuṇṭha planets are manifested.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 25.133 quotesSB 3.5.23

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.5.23).

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

Madhya 25: How All the Residents of Vārāṇasī Became Vaiṣṇavas

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

At this time Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī and all his devotees approached the Lord. Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī immediately fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and very much regretted his past behavior toward the Lord.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 25

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
ekaḥonly
āsawas
idamthis universe
agrebefore (before the creation of this cosmic manifestation)
ātmāthe living force
ātmanāmof all the living entities
vibhuḥthe Supreme Lord

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What does the Lord’s existence before creation teach you about His self-sufficiency?

Practice

Read the verse slowly once, pausing to reflect on the Lord as the cause of all causes.

Live this todayThe Supreme Lord Exists Before CreationThis 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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