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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 25.72

প্রভু কহে, — “তুমি জগদ্‌গুরু পূজ্যতম ।

আমি তোমার না হই ‘শিষ্যের শিষ্য’ সম ॥ ৭২ ॥

prabhu kahe, — ‘tumi jagad-guru pūjyatama

āmi tomāra nā ha-i ‘śiṣyera śiṣya’ sama

Translation

When Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī caught hold of the Lord’s lotus feet, the Lord said, “My dear sir, you are the spiritual master of the whole world; therefore you are most worshipable. As far as I am concerned, I am not even on the level of the disciple of your disciple.”

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Greatness Expressed Through Humility

  1. 1

    The Lord addressed Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī as the spiritual master of the whole world and as most worshipable. He placed Himself below even the disciple of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī’s disciple.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that Māyāvādī sannyāsīs generally call themselves jagad-guru, the spiritual master of the whole world. Many consider themselves worshipable by everyone, although they do not go beyond India or even their own district.

  3. 3

    Out of great magnanimity and humility, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented Himself as a subordinate disciple of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī.

Key points from the purport
  • Māyāvādī sannyāsīs generally call themselves jagad-guru, the spiritual master of the whole world.
  • Many consider themselves worshipable by everyone, although they do not even go outside India or their own district.
  • Out of His great magnanimity and humility, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu presented Himself as a subordinate disciple of Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī.

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:

Prakāśānanda Sarasvatī immediately fell down at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and very much regretted his past behavior toward the Lord. 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.
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. prabhu kaheŚrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued to speak
  2. tumiyou
  3. jagat-guruthe spiritual master of the whole world
  4. pūjya-tamathe most worshipable
  5. āmiI
  6. tomārayour
  7. nā ha-iam not
  8. śiṣyera śiṣya samaequal to the disciple of the disciple
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “lotus feet”

  • Audārya · Love that moves outward

    The freely offered gift of bhakti and prema, especially through nāma-saṅkīrtana and Mahāprabhu’s compassionate dealings. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “magnanimity”

  • Dainya & humility · Making room for grace

    The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “humility”

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 the Lord’s example challenge the desire to be honored by others?

Practice

In one conversation today, listen respectfully without trying to establish your own importance.

Live this todayGreatness Expressed Through HumilityThis 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 25.72? Get an answer from the verses themselves.