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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 25.136

ভক্ত্যাহমেকয়া গ্রাহ্যঃ শ্রদ্ধয়াত্মা প্রিয়ঃ সতাম্ ।

ভক্তিঃ পুনাতি মন্নিষ্ঠা শ্বপাকানপি সম্ভবাৎ ॥ ১৩৬ ॥

bhaktyāham ekayā grāhyaḥ

śraddhayātmā priyaḥ satām

bhaktiḥ punāti man-niṣṭhā

śva-pākān api sambhavāt

Translation

“[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] ‘Being very dear to the devotees and sādhus, I am attained through unflinching faith and devotional service. This bhakti-yoga system, which gradually increases attachment for Me, purifies even a human being born among dog-eaters. That is to say, everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform by the process of bhakti-yoga.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Open to Everyone

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa is very dear to the devotees and sādhus. He is attained through unflinching faith and devotional service.

  2. 2

    The process of bhakti-yoga gradually increases attachment for Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga purifies even a person born among dog-eaters. Everyone can be elevated to the spiritual platform through this process.

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. bhaktyāby devotional service
  2. ahamI, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. ekayāunflinching
  4. grāhyaḥobtainable
  5. śraddhayāby faith
  6. ātmāthe most dear
  7. priyaḥto be served
  8. satāmby the devotees
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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.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Kṛṣṇa’s assurance that everyone can be elevated encourage your faith in devotional service?

Practice

Set aside one minute today to address Kṛṣṇa in prayer, asking for steady faith and attachment to Him.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Open to EveryoneThis 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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