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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

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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 6: The Liberation of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya
Madhya 6.177Madhya 6.179

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 6.178

“ভগবান্ — ‘সম্বন্ধ’, ভক্তি — ‘অভিধেয়’ হয় ।

প্রেমা — ‘প্রয়োজন’, বেদে তিনবস্তু কয় ॥ ১৭৮ ॥

bhagavān — ‘sambandha’, bhakti — ‘abhidheya’ haya

premā — ‘prayojana’, vede tina-vastu kaya

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu continued, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the central point of all relationships, acting in devotional service to Him is one’s real occupation, and the attainment of love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of life. These three subject matters are described in the Vedic literature.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Leads to Love of Godhead

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the center of all relationships. Devotional service is one’s real occupation, and love of Godhead is life’s ultimate goal.

  2. 2

    The purpose of studying the Vedas is to become a devotee of the Supreme Lord. This means thinking of Him, worshiping Him and offering Him obeisances.

  3. 3

    Because establishing varṇāśrama-dharma is very difficult in this age, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu recommends directly chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and hearing about the Lord from pure devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore, after studying the Vedas, one must then execute devotional service by thinking always of the Supreme Lord (man-manā), becoming His devotee, worshiping Him and always offering Him obeisances.
  • However, this institution is very difficult to establish in this age; therefore Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu advises that we not worry about the Vedic system of varṇāśrama-dharma.
  • This is the process recommended by Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and this is the purpose for studying the Vedas.

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· 2

The purport of CC Madhya 6.178 quotesBG 15.15

In the Bhagavad-gītā (15.15) Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms this statement: vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ.

The purport of CC Madhya 6.178 quotesBG 9.34

The Lord Himself advises, man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru. Therefore, after studying the Vedas, one must then execute devotional service by thinking always of the Supreme Lord (man-manā), becoming His devotee, worshiping Him and always offering Him obeisances.

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:

The Bhaṭṭācārya was an impersonalist, but Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu proved that the Absolute Truth is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He proved that the conceptions of the Māyāvādī philosophers concerning the impersonal Absolute Truth are incorrect.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 6
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. sambandharelationship
  3. bhaktidevotional service
  4. abhidheyatranscendental activities
  5. hayais
  6. premālove of Godhead
  7. prayojanathe ultimate goal of life
  8. vedethe Vedas
  9. tina-vastuthree subject matters
  10. kayadescribe
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Prema · Love of Godhead

    The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “love of godhead”

  • Bhāva & rasa · The language of sacred feeling

    Transcendental devotional moods and relationships, discussed explicitly in Rāmānanda’s dialogue and the teachings on prema. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “relationships”

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can my study lead to devotional service rather than remain only an exercise in learning?

Practice

Spend a few minutes today chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra and reading this purport attentively to hear about the Supreme Lord.

Live this todayDevotional Service Leads to Love of GodheadThis 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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