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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 5.158
দণ্ডভঙ্গ-লীলা — এই পরম গম্ভীর ।
সেই বুঝে, দুঁহার পদে যাঁর ভক্তি ধীর ॥ ১৫৮ ॥
daṇḍa-bhaṅga-līlā ei — parama gambhīra
sei bujhe, duṅhāra pade yāṅra bhakti dhīra
The pastime of the breaking of the staff is very deep. Only one whose devotion is fixed upon the lotus feet of the two Lords can understand it.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The breaking of the staff is a very deep pastime. Only one whose devotion is fixed upon the lotus feet of the two Lords can understand it.
The staff signifies full engagement of mind, speech and body in the Lord’s service. Although in the paramahaṁsa stage, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu followed the regulations to teach full engagement in service through accepting sannyāsa at the end of life.
Nityānanda Prabhu, His eternal servitor, believed that Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu did not need to carry the staff. He broke it into three pieces to declare that the Lord was above all regulations.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
Faith vindicated. The Deity bears witness; anxiety over a broken promise becomes astonishment and relief.
The mood of Madhya 5 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:
However, Nityānanda Prabhu broke the staff into three pieces and threw it into the Bhārgī River at a place known as Āṭhāranālā. Being angry at not getting His staff back, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu left the company of Nityānanda Prabhu and went alone to see the Jagannātha temple.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 5
Learn the words of the 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.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
How could your mind, speech and body become more fully engaged in the Lord’s service?
Choose one small act of service today and give it your attention, words and physical effort.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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