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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 7.31

সেই দুঃখ দেখি’ যেই ভক্ত দুঃখ পায় ।

সেই দুঃখ তাঁর শক্ত্যে সহন না যায় ॥ ৩১ ॥

sei duḥkha dekhi’ yei bhakta duḥkha pāya

sei duḥkha tāṅra śaktye sahana nā yāya

Translation

The regulative principles observed by Caitanya Mahāprabhu were sometimes intolerable, and all the devotees became greatly affected by them. Although strictly observing the regulative principles, Caitanya Mahāprabhu could not tolerate the unhappiness felt by His devotees.

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.

Strict discipline with tenderness toward devotees

  1. 1

    The regulative principles Caitanya Mahāprabhu observed were sometimes intolerable.

  2. 2

    All the devotees were greatly affected by His strict observance.

  3. 3

    Although He strictly observed these principles, He could not tolerate the unhappiness His devotees felt.

How it feels

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

Further reading

Madhya 7: The Lord Begins His Tour of South India

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
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. sei duḥkhathat unhappiness
  2. dekhi’seeing
  3. yeiwhatever
  4. bhaktathe devotees
  5. duḥkhaunhappiness
  6. pāyaget
  7. sei duḥkhathat unhappiness
  8. tāṅraHis
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I attentive to others’ unhappiness while maintaining my own discipline?

Practice

Check gently on someone who seems troubled, and listen to how they feel.

Live this todayStrict discipline with tenderness toward devoteesThis 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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