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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 4: Śrī Mādhavendra Purī’s Devotional Service
Madhya 4.207Madhya 4.209

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 4.208

গোপীনাথ-রূপে যদি করিয়াছেন ভোজন ।

ভক্তি দেখাইতে কৈল প্রসাদ ভক্ষণ ॥ ২০৮ ॥

gopīnātha-rūpe yadi kariyāchena bhojana

bhakti dekhāite kaila prasāda bhakṣaṇa

Translation

Being identical with the Gopīnātha Deity, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu had already tasted and eaten the pots of sweet rice. Yet just to manifest devotional service, He again ate the pots of sweet rice as a devotee.

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.

The Lord Acts as a Devotee

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is identical with the Gopīnātha Deity.

  2. 2

    He had therefore already tasted and eaten the pots of sweet rice.

  3. 3

    Yet He ate the sweet rice again as a devotee, just to manifest devotional service.

How it feels

Selfless service and longing. Gopāla’s requests, Gopīnātha’s mercy, and Mādhavendra Purī’s devotion deepen the theme of longing.

The mood of Madhya 4 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 4: Śrī Mādhavendra Purī’s Devotional Service

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

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu narrated this story for Lord Nityānanda Prabhu and other devotees and praised the pure devotional service of Mādhavendra Purī. When He recited some verses composed by Mādhavendra Purī, He went into an ecstatic mood.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 4
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. gopīnātha-rūpein His arcā incarnation as Gopīnātha
  2. yadialthough
  3. kariyāchenahas done
  4. bhojanaeating
  5. bhaktidevotional service
  6. dekhāiteto exhibit
  7. kailadid
  8. prasāda bhakṣaṇaeating
3

Key ideas in this 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”

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “gopīnātha”

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

What does His eating as a devotee help you appreciate about devotional service?

Practice

Read this translation once more, giving special attention to His purpose: “to manifest devotional service.”

Live this todayThe Lord Acts as a DevoteeThis 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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