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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 25.78Madhya 25.80

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.79

জীবে ‘বিষ্ণু’ বুদ্ধি দূরে — যেই ব্রহ্ম-রুদ্র-সম ।

নারায়ণে মানে তারে ‘পাষণ্ডীতে’ গণন ॥ ৭৯ ॥

jīve ‘viṣṇu’ buddhi dūre — yei brahma-rudra-sama

nārāyaṇe māne tāre ‘pāṣaṇḍīte’ gaṇana

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “To say nothing of ordinary living entities, even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot be considered on the level of Viṣṇu or Nārāyaṇa. If one considers them as such, he is immediately considered an offender and atheist.

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.

Viṣṇu Is Not Equal to Living Entities

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu distinguishes ordinary living entities from Viṣṇu or Nārāyaṇa.

  2. 2

    Even Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva cannot be considered on the same level as Viṣṇu or Nārāyaṇa.

  3. 3

    He says that one who considers them equal in this way is immediately considered an offender and atheist.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. jīvean ordinary living being
  2. viṣṇuas Lord Viṣṇu
  3. buddhiacceptance
  4. dūrelet alone
  5. yeianyone who
  6. brahma-rudra-samaequal to personalities like Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva
  7. nārāyaṇeLord Nārāyaṇa, Viṣṇu
  8. māneaccepts
  9. tāresuch a person
  10. pāṣaṇḍīte gaṇanais grouped among the pāṣaṇḍīs, atheistic offenders
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I keeping clear the distinction this verse makes between Viṣṇu and other beings?

Practice

Write one sentence stating the distinction between Viṣṇu or Nārāyaṇa and Brahmā and Śiva.

Live this todayViṣṇu Is Not Equal to Living EntitiesThis 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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