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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 25.29Madhya 25.31

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.30

ভক্তি বিনা মুক্তি নহে, ভাগবতে কয় ।

কলিকালে নামাভাসে সুখে মুক্তি হয় ॥ ৩০ ॥

bhakti vinā mukti nahe, bhāgavate kaya

kali-kāle nāmābhāse sukhe mukti haya

Translation

“In this Age of Kali, one cannot attain liberation without taking to the devotional service of the Lord. In this age, even if one chants the holy name of Kṛṣṇa imperfectly, he still attains liberation very easily.

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.

Chant Even If Imperfectly

  1. 1

    In the Age of Kali, liberation cannot be attained without devotional service to the Lord.

  2. 2

    Even imperfect chanting of Kṛṣṇa’s holy name brings great spiritual benefit.

  3. 3

    The verse states that through such chanting, one attains liberation very easily.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. bhakti vināwithout devotional service
  2. mukti nahethere is no question of liberation
  3. bhāgavate kayait is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
  4. kali-kālein this Age of Kali
  5. nāma-ābhāseeven by a slight appreciation of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra
  6. sukhewithout difficulty
  7. mukti hayaone can get liberation
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “chants”, “holy name”, “chanting”

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does concern about being imperfect keep me from chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy name?

Practice

Spend one minute chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy name without waiting to become perfect.

5

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 todayChant Even If ImperfectlyThis 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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