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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 7.18
প্রভু কহে, “আমি — নর্তক, তুমি — সূত্রধার ।
তুমি যৈছে নাচাও, তৈছে নর্তন আমার ॥ ১৮ ॥
prabhu kahe, “āmi — nartaka, tumi — sūtra-dhāra
tumi yaiche nācāo, taiche nartana āmāra
The Lord replied, “I am simply a dancer, and You are the wire-puller. However You pull the wires to make Me dance, I shall dance in that way.
Read this verse on Vedabase.ioThis verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.
Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The Lord describes Himself as simply a dancer.
He calls the person He addresses the wire-puller, who directs His dancing.
He says He will dance however the wires are pulled, expressing His willingness to follow.
Expansive compassion. The Lord carries nāma and mercy from village to village, including deliverance of Vāsudeva.
The mood of Madhya 7 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:
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the renounced order of life in the month of Māgha (January-February) and went to Jagannātha Purī in the month of Phālguna (February-March). He saw the Dola-yātrā festival during the month of Phālguna, and in the month of Caitra He liberated Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya.Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 7
Learn the words of the verse.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
How willingly do I allow someone else to guide me?
Today, let someone else guide one small shared activity, and practice following attentively.
Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.
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