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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

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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 25.84Madhya 25.86

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 25.85

নৈষাং মতিস্তাবদুরুক্রমাঙ্ঘ্রিং

স্পৃশত্যনর্থাপগমো যদর্থঃ ।

মহীয়সাং পাদরজোঽভিষেকং

নিষ্কিঞ্চনানাং ন বৃণীত যাবৎ ॥ ৮৫ ॥

naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghriṁ

spṛśaty anarthāpagamo yad-arthaḥ

mahīyasāṁ pāda-rajo-’bhiṣekaṁ

niṣkiñcanānāṁ na vṛṇīta yāvat

Translation

“ ‘Unless human society accepts the dust of the lotus feet of great mahātmās — devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions — mankind cannot turn its attention to the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Those lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted, miserable conditions of material life.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Great Devotees Turn Us Toward Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Human society must accept the dust of the lotus feet of great mahātmās to turn its attention to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    These great mahātmās are devotees who have nothing to do with material possessions.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet vanquish all the unwanted, miserable conditions of material life.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of CC Madhya 25.85 quotesSB 7.5.32

This verse appears in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32).

The purport of CC Madhya 25.85 quotesCC Madhya 22.53

This verse appears in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.32).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. nanot
  2. eṣāmof those who are attached to household life
  3. matiḥthe interest
  4. tāvatthat long
  5. urukrama-aṅghrimthe lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is credited with uncommon activities
  6. spṛśatitouches
  7. anarthaof unwanted things
  8. apagamaḥvanquishing
3

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”

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 willing are you to humbly receive the help of devotees detached from material possessions?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer for the mercy of great mahātmās and for attention to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet.

Live this todayGreat Devotees Turn Us Toward KṛṣṇaThis 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 25.85? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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