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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 25.49Madhya 25.51

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.50

‘মীমাংসক’ কহে, — ‘ঈশ্বর হয় কর্মের অঙ্গ’ ।

‘সাংখ্য’ কহে, — ‘জগতের প্রকৃতি কারণ-প্ৰসঙ্গ’ ॥ ৫০ ॥

‘mīmāṁsaka’ kahe, — ‘īśvara haya karmera aṅga’

‘sāṅkhya’ kahe, — ‘jagatera prakṛti kāraṇa-prasaṅga’

Translation

“The Mīmāṁsaka philosophers conclude that if there is a God, He is subject to our fruitive activities. Similarly, the Sāṅkhya philosophers, who analyze the cosmic manifestation, say that the cause of the cosmos is material nature.

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.

Two Philosophies Explain Cause Differently

  1. 1

    The Mīmāṁsaka philosophers conclude that if God exists, He is subject to our fruitive activities.

  2. 2

    The Sāṅkhya philosophers analyze the cosmic manifestation and identify material nature as its cause.

  3. 3

    In this discussion, these views contrast with the Vedic conclusion that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the original cause.

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 invited all the sannyāsīs to his house to meet Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and this incident has been described in the seventh chapter of the Ādi-līlā. From that day, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu became famous in the city of Vārāṇasī, and many important men in that city became His followers.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 25
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. mīmāṁsakathe Mīmāṁsaka philosophers
  2. kahesay
  3. īśvarathe Supreme Lord
  4. hayais
  5. karmera aṅgasubject to fruitive activities
  6. sāṅkhya kahethe atheistic Sāṅkhya philosophers say
  7. jagateraof the cosmic manifestation
  8. prakṛtinature
  9. kāraṇathe cause
  10. prasaṅgathesis
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “discussion”

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

How does treating God as subject to our activities differ from accepting Him as the original cause?

Practice

Write one sentence distinguishing the Mīmāṁsaka conclusion from the Sāṅkhya conclusion.

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 todayTwo Philosophies Explain Cause DifferentlyThis 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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