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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 6.103

কৃষ্ণবর্ণং ত্বিষাঽকৃষ্ণং সাঙ্গোপাঙ্গাস্ত্রপার্ষদম্ ।

যজ্ঞৈঃ সংকীর্তনপ্রায়ৈর্যজন্তি হি সুমেধসঃ ॥ ১০৩ ॥

kṛṣṇa-varṇaṁ tviṣākṛṣṇaṁ

sāṅgopāṅgāstra-pārṣadam

yajñaiḥ saṅkīrtana-prāyair

yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ

Translation

“ ‘In this Age of Kali, those who are intelligent perform the congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in this age always describing the glories of Kṛṣṇa. That incarnation is yellowish in hue and is always associated with His plenary expansions [such as Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu] and personal expansions [such as Gadādhara], as well as His devotees and associates [such as Svarūpa Dāmodara].’

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Worship Through Congregational Chanting

  1. 1

    In the Age of Kali, intelligent people worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead through congregational chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s incarnation in this age is yellowish in hue and always describes the glories of Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    He is always accompanied by His plenary expansions, personal expansions, devotees and associates. The translation names Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu, Gadādhara and Svarūpa Dāmodara among them.

Key points from the purport
  • This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) is explained by Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī in his Krama-sandarbha, as quoted by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in regard to the explanation of Ādi-līlā, third chapter, verse 52.

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· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 6.103 quotesSB 11.5.32

This verse from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) is explained by Śrī Jīva Gosvāmī in his Krama-sandarbha, as quoted by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in regard to the explanation of Ādi-līlā, third chapter, verse 52.

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

Doubt transformed to devotion. Intellectual resistance gives way to a profound change of heart.

The mood of Madhya 6 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 6: The Liberation of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya

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

Śrīla Nityānanda Prabhu and other devotees then visited the Jagannātha temple, and when they came back to the house of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu returned to external consciousness. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya received everyone and distributed mahā-prasādam with great care.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 6
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kṛṣṇa-varṇamchanting the two syllables kṛṣ and ṇa
  2. tviṣāby complexion
  3. akṛṣṇamnot blackish
  4. sa-aṅgaaccompanied by personal expansions
  5. upa-aṅgadevotees
  6. astrathe weapon of chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra
  7. pārṣadamand associates like Gadādhara, Svarūpa Dāmodara, etc.
  8. yajñaiḥby sacrifice
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Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “chanting”, “congregational”

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “associated”, “associates”

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

How can I make room for congregational chanting as worship?

Practice

Invite someone to join you in chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra for a few minutes today.

Live this todayWorship Through Congregational ChantingThis 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 6.103? Get an answer from the verses themselves.