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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

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 25.280 Madhya 25.282

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.281

শ্রীরূপ-সনাতন- রঘুনাথ-জীব-চরণ,

শিরে ধরি, — যার করোঁ আশ ।

কৃষ্ণলীলামৃতান্বিত, চৈতন্যচরিতামৃত,

কহে কিছু দীন কৃষ্ণদাস ॥ ২৮১ ॥

śrī-rūpa-sanātana- raghunātha-jīva-caraṇa,

śire dhari, — yāra karoṅ āśa

kṛṣṇa-līlāmṛtānvita, caitanya-caritāmṛta,

kahe kichu dīna kṛṣṇadāsa

Translation

Taking the feet of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Jīva Gosvāmī on my head, I always desire their mercy. Thus I, Kṛṣṇadāsa, humbly try to describe the nectar of the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, which are mixed with the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Mercy for Humble Devotional Expression

1
Kṛṣṇadāsa takes upon his head the feet of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī, Śrī Sanātana Gosvāmī, Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Jīva Gosvāmī.
2
He always desires their mercy and humbly attempts to describe these nectarean pastimes.
3
His description brings together the pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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:

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 summary Back to this verse in Madhya 25

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

śrī-rūpa-sanātanaof Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī and of Sanātana Gosvāmī
raghunātha-jīvaof Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī and Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī
caraṇathe lotus feet
śire dharitaking on my head
yāraof which
karoṅ āśaI always desire
kṛṣṇa-līlā-amṛta-anvitamixed with the nectar of kṛṣṇa-līlā
caitanya-caritāmṛtathe pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life
Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “mercy”
Kīrtana community · A movement of shared hearts
Devotional community as a living network of branches, service, festivals, care, and collective chanting. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “together”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I learn from Kṛṣṇadāsa’s humility and constant desire for mercy?

Practice

Before writing one sentence about what you learned today, offer a brief prayer for the mercy of the Gosvāmīs named in this verse.

Live this todaySeek Mercy for Humble Devotional ExpressionThis 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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