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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 25.20

সর্বশাস্ত্র খণ্ডি’ প্রভু ‘ভক্তি’ করে সার ।

সযুক্তিক বাক্যে মন ফিরায় সবার ॥ ২০ ॥

sarva-śāstra khaṇḍi’ prabhu ‘bhakti’ kare sāra

sayuktika vākye mana phirāya sabāra

Translation

When people came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to discuss the principles of various scriptures, the Lord defeated their false conclusions and established the predominance of devotional service to the Lord. With logic and argument He very politely changed their minds.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Religion Is Loving Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu defeated false conclusions and established the predominance of devotional service. He changed people’s minds very politely through logic and argument.

  2. 2

    The real principle of religion is to accept the Lord’s supreme authority, become His devotee and try to love Him. Devotional service to the Lord is enjoined in every scripture.

  3. 3

    Being Christian, Muslim or Hindu is not the essential consideration; one should serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead, free from material designations. The purport describes the worldwide spread of Kṛṣṇa consciousness through this teaching and its reasoned presentation.

Key points from the purport
  • We have been spreading this saṅkīrtana movement in the Western countries, and in our recent tour of European cities like Rome, Geneva, Paris and Frankfurt, many learned Christian scholars, priests, philosophers and yogīs came to see us, and by the grace of Kṛṣṇa they agreed that the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, the bhakti cult, offers the topmost conclusion.
  • Following in the footsteps of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, we are trying to convince everyone that the devotional service of the Lord is enjoined in every scripture.
  • Due to our solid logic and scientific presentation, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s prediction that Kṛṣṇa consciousness will spread to every town and village throughout the world is gradually being realized.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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. sarva-śāstra khaṇḍi’defeating all the false conclusions of different scriptures
  2. prabhuŚrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  3. bhakti kare sāraestablished the predominance of devotional service
  4. sa-yuktika vākyeby talks full of pleasing logic and arguments
  5. mana phirāyaturns the minds
  6. sabāraof everyone
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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”, “serve”

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “discuss”

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “love”

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

Am I giving more attention to my religious designation or to loving and serving the Lord?

Practice

In one conversation today, explain a devotional teaching politely, giving a clear reason rather than arguing harshly.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayTrue Religion Is Loving Devotional ServiceThis 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 25.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.