1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 3: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Stay at the House of Advaita Ācārya
Madhya 3.5Madhya 3.7

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 3.6

এতাং স আস্থায় পরাত্মনিষ্ঠা-

মধ্যাসিতাং পূর্বতমৈর্মহদ্ভিঃ ।

অহং তরিষ্যামি দুরন্তপারং

তমো মুকুন্দাঙ্ঘ্রিনিষেবয়ৈব ॥ ৬ ॥

etāṁ sa āsthāya parātma-niṣṭhām

adhyāsitāṁ pūrvatamair mahadbhiḥ

ahaṁ tariṣyāmi duranta-pāraṁ

tamo mukundāṅghri-niṣevayaiva

Translation

“[As a brāhmaṇa from Avantī-deśa said:] ‘I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. This was approved by the previous ācāryas, who were fixed in firm devotion to the Lord, Paramātmā, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service, Not Dress, Defines Sannyāsa

  1. 1

    Acceptance of the symbolic marks of sannyāsa is a regulative principle among the sixty-four items of devotional service.

  2. 2

    The main business of one who accepts sannyāsa is to devote life completely to the service of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa. Without devoting mind and body to the Lord’s service, one does not actually become a sannyāsī.

  3. 3

    One who works devotedly for Kṛṣṇa’s satisfaction is a sannyāsī. Sannyāsa is not simply a change of dress, but an attitude of service to Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • If one accepts the sannyāsa order, his main business is to devote his life completely to the service of Mukunda, Kṛṣṇa.
  • If one does not completely devote his mind and body to the service of the Lord, he does not actually become a sannyāsī.
  • The dress is not sannyāsa, but the attitude of service to Kṛṣṇa is.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of CC Madhya 3.6 quotesSB 11.23.57

In connection with this verse, which is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.23.57), Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura says that of the sixty-four items required for rendering devotional service, acceptance of the symbolic marks of sannyāsa is a regulative principle.

The purport of CC Madhya 3.6 quotesBG 6.1

In Bhagavad-gītā (6.1) it is also stated, anāśritaḥ karma-phalaṁ kāryaṁ karma karoti yaḥ/ sa sannyāsī ca yogī ca: one who works devotedly for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa is a sannyāsī.

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

Reunion and heartbreaking parting. After sannyāsa, mother Śacī and the devotees reunite with Him before consenting to separation.

The mood of Madhya 3 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 3: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Stay at the House of Advaita Ācārya

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

After accepting the sannyāsa order at Katwa, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu traveled continuously for three days in Rāḍha-deśa and, by the trick of Nityānanda Prabhu, eventually came to the western side of Śāntipura. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu was induced to believe that the river Ganges was the Yamunā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 3
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. etāmthis
  2. saḥsuch
  3. āsthāyabeing completely fixed in
  4. para-ātma-niṣṭhāmdevotion to the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa
  5. adhyāsitāmworshiped
  6. pūrva-tamaiḥby previous
  7. mahadbhiḥācāryas
  8. ahamI
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”

  • Sevā · Love translated into service

    Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “service”

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

Where can you give more attention to serving Kṛṣṇa rather than to outward appearance?

Practice

Choose one task today and do it carefully with the intention of satisfying Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayService, Not Dress, Defines SannyāsaThis 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 3.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters