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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 3.63

হরিদাস কহে — মুঞি পাপিষ্ঠ অধম ।

বাহিরে এক মুষ্টি পাছে করিমু ভোজন ॥ ৬৩ ॥

haridāsa kahe — muñi pāpiṣṭha adhama

bāhire eka muṣṭi pāche karimu bhojana

Translation

Haridāsa Ṭhākura said, “I am the most sinful and lowest among men. Later I shall eat one palmful of prasādam while waiting outside.”

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Advancement Remains Humble

  1. 1

    Haridāsa Ṭhākura was an exalted Vaiṣṇava accepted by Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

  2. 2

    Although personally invited by the two Lords, he proposed to take prasādam outside. Out of great humility, he accepted the social position assigned to Muslims at that time so as not to disturb social tranquillity.

  3. 3

    Though equal to other great Vaiṣṇavas, he considered himself pāpiṣṭha, a most sinful man, and adhama, the lowest among men. The purport explains that even a spiritually advanced Vaiṣṇava remains externally humble and submissive.

Key points from the purport
  • Although personally called by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Nityānanda Prabhu to take prasādam with Them, still, out of great humility, Haridāsa Ṭhākura submitted, “I shall take the prasādam outside of the house.”
  • Although Haridāsa Ṭhākura was an exalted Vaiṣṇava accepted by Advaita Ācārya, Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, nonetheless, in order not to disturb social tranquillity, he humbly kept himself in the position of a Muslim, outside the jurisdiction of the Hindu community.
  • Although he was in an exalted position and equal to other great Vaiṣṇavas, he considered himself a pāpiṣṭha, a most sinful man, and adhama, the lowest among men.

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

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:

In his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura gives the following summary of the third chapter. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 3
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. haridāsa kaheHaridāsa said
  2. muñiI
  3. pāpiṣṭhasinful
  4. adhamathe lowest of men
  5. bāhireoutside
  6. ekaone
  7. muṣṭipalmful
  8. pāchelater
  9. karimuI shall do
  10. bhojanaeating
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “lowest”, “humble”, “humility”

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “haridāsa”

Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I remain humble without seeking recognition for my spiritual progress?

Practice

Today, quietly do one helpful act without drawing attention to your own merit.

Live this todaySpiritual Advancement Remains HumbleThis 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 3.63? Get an answer from the verses themselves.