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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 25.56Madhya 25.58

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.57

তর্কোঽপ্রতিষ্ঠঃ শ্রুতয়ো বিভিন্না

নাসাবৃষির্যস্য মতং ন ভিন্নম্ ।

ধর্মস্য তত্ত্বং নিহিতং গুহায়াং

মহাজনো যেন গতঃ স পন্থাঃ ॥ ৫৭ ॥

tarko ’pratiṣṭhaḥ śrutayo vibhinnā

nāsāv ṛṣir yasya mataṁ na bhinnam

dharmasya tattvaṁ nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ

mahājano yena gataḥ sa panthāḥ

Translation

“ ‘Dry arguments are inconclusive. A great personality whose opinion does not differ from others is not considered a great sage. Simply by studying the Vedas, which are variegated, one cannot come to the right path by which religious principles are understood. The solid truth of religious principles is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person. Consequently, as the śāstras confirm, one should accept whatever progressive path the mahājanas advocate.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Path of the Mahājanas

  1. 1

    Dry arguments are inconclusive, and the opinions of great sages differ. Argument alone cannot establish the right spiritual path.

  2. 2

    Simply studying the varied Vedas does not reveal the true understanding of religious principles. Their solid truth is hidden in the heart of an unadulterated, self-realized person.

  3. 3

    One should accept the progressive path advocated by the mahājanas. The purport identifies these words as spoken by Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja in the Mahābhārata.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a verse spoken by Yudhiṣṭhira Mahārāja in the Mahābhārata, Vana-parva 313.117.

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:

By and by, one of the disciples of the great sannyāsī Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī became devoted to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and this devotee explained Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī and supported His views with various arguments. One day Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu went to take a bath at Pañcanada, and afterwards all His devotees began chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra in front of the temple of Bindu Mādhava.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 25
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. tarkaḥdry argument
  2. apratiṣṭhaḥnot fixed
  3. śrutayaḥthe Vedas
  4. vibhinnāḥpossessing different departments
  5. nanot
  6. asauthat
  7. ṛṣiḥgreat sage
  8. yasyawhose
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I become more receptive to the guidance of self-realized persons rather than relying only on argument?

Practice

Reread this verse and write one sentence about why spiritual guidance matters.

4

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

Quoted in 2 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayFollow the Path of the MahājanasThis 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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