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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 25.156Madhya 25.158

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.157

পরিনিষ্ঠিতোঽপি নৈর্গুণ্যে উত্তমঃশ্লোকলীলয়া ।

গৃহীতচেতা রাজর্ষে আখ্যানং যদধীতবান্‌ ॥ ১৫৭ ॥

pariniṣṭhito ’pi nairguṇya

uttamaḥśloka-līlayā

gṛhīta-cetā rājarṣe

ākhyānaṁ yad adhītavān

Translation

“[Śukadeva Gosvāmī addressed Parīkṣit Mahārāja:] ‘My dear King, although I was fully situated in the transcendental position, I was nonetheless attracted to the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore I studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from my father.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attraction to Kṛṣṇa Inspires Bhāgavatam Study

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī told Parīkṣit Mahārāja that he was already fully situated in the transcendental position.

  2. 2

    Nevertheless, he was attracted to the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Because of that attraction, he studied Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from his father.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 25.157 quotesSB 2.1.9

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.1.9).

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:

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu then pointed out that Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the proper commentary on the Vedānta-sūtra. He then explained the catuḥ-ślokī (four ślokas ) of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the essence of that great scripture.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 25
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. pariniṣṭhitaḥsituated
  2. apialthough
  3. nairguṇyain the transcendental position, freed from the material modes of nature
  4. uttamaḥ-śloka-līlayāby the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamaḥśloka
  5. gṛhīta-cetāḥthe mind became fully taken over
  6. rājā-ṛṣeO great King
  7. ākhyānamthe narration
  8. yatwhich
  9. adhītavānstudied
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can attraction to Lord Kṛṣṇa guide the way I study Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam?

Practice

Read this quotation slowly, giving special attention to Śukadeva Gosvāmī’s reason for studying Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Live this todayAttraction to Kṛṣṇa Inspires Bhāgavatam StudyThis 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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