1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 7: The Lord Begins His Tour of South India
Madhya 7.6Madhya 7.9

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Madhya 7.7-8

নিজগণ আনি’ কহে বিনয় করিয়া ।

আলিঙ্গন করি’ সবায় শ্রীহস্তে ধরিয়া ॥ ৭ ॥

nija-gaṇa āni’ kahe vinaya kariyā

āliṅgana kari’ sabāya śrī-haste dhariyā

Translation

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called all His devotees together and, holding them by the hand, humbly informed them, “You are all more dear to Me than My life. I can give up My life, but to give you up is difficult for Me.

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.

Devotees Dearer Than Life

  1. 1

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu called all His devotees together and held them by the hand.

  2. 2

    He humbly told them that they were more dear to Him than His life.

  3. 3

    He said He could give up His life, but giving them up was difficult for Him.

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. nija-gaṇa āni’calling all the devotees
  2. kahesaid
  3. vinayahumbleness
  4. kariyāshowing
  5. āliṅgana kari’embracing
  6. sabāyaall of them
  7. śrī-hastewith His hands
  8. dhariyācatching them
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Kīrtana community · A movement of shared hearts

    Devotional community as a living network of branches, service, festivals, care, and collective chanting. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “together”

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

What touches you about the Lord’s humble expression of affection for His devotees?

Practice

Reread the Lord’s words slowly, pausing to reflect on how dear His devotees are to Him.

Live this todayDevotees Dearer Than LifeThis 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 7.7-8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters