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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 25.196Madhya 25.198

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.197

তবে যদি মহাপ্রভু বারাণসী আইলা ।

তাঁরে মিলি’ রায় আপন-বৃত্তান্ত কহিলা ॥ ১৯৭ ॥

tabe yadi mahāprabhu vārāṇasī āilā

tāṅre mili’ rāya āpana-vṛttānta kahilā

Translation

In his state of perplexity, Subuddhi Rāya met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu when the Lord was at Vārāṇasī. Subuddhi Rāya explained his position and asked Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu what he should do.

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.

Bring Confusion to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

  1. 1

    While perplexed, Subuddhi Rāya met Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Vārāṇasī. His uncertainty became the occasion to seek the Lord’s guidance.

  2. 2

    Subuddhi Rāya explained his position to the Lord. He openly asked what he should do.

  3. 3

    In the following verses, the Lord gives him a clear direction: go to Vṛndāvana and chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. The answer turns his attention toward chanting and shelter at Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

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:

Kavirāja Gosvāmī then describes something about Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Sanātana Gosvāmī and Subuddhi Rāya. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to Jagannātha Purī through the great forest of Jhārikhaṇḍa (Jharkhand) in central India.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 25
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tabeat this moment
  2. yadiwhen
  3. mahāprabhuŚrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  4. vārāṇasī āilācame to Vārāṇasī
  5. tāṅre mili’meeting Him
  6. rāyaSubuddhi Rāya
  7. āpana-vṛttānta kahilāexplained his personal situation
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “shelter”, “lotus feet”

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “chant”

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “vṛndāvana”

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

What uncertainty would I like to bring honestly before the Lord?

Practice

Put one spiritual concern into a simple prayer asking the Lord for guidance.

Live this todayBring Confusion to Śrī Caitanya MahāprabhuThis 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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