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Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 3.8
পরাত্মনিষ্ঠা-মাত্র বেষ-ধারণ ।
মুকুন্দ-সেবায় হয় সংসার-তারণ ॥ ৮ ॥
parātma-niṣṭhā-mātra veṣa-dhāraṇa
mukunda-sevāya haya saṁsāra-tāraṇa
The real purpose of accepting sannyāsa is to dedicate oneself to the service of Mukunda. By serving Mukunda, one can actually be liberated from the bondage of material existence.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the brāhmaṇa’s statement because of his determination to serve Mukunda.
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not favor the material formality of sannyāsī dress. He wanted its essence—service to Mukunda.
Determination to serve in any condition is called parātma-niṣṭhā. The sannyāsa order depends on this determination, not on dress.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
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
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
Learn the words of the verse.
The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.
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”, “serving”, “serve”
Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life
Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “favor”
Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter
Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “depends”
Concept links are an editorial study map; only the verse is the text itself.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
What would determination to serve Mukunda look like in your present circumstances?
Set aside a few minutes today for service to Mukunda, without waiting for your circumstances to change.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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