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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 8: Talks Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya
Madhya 8.148Madhya 8.150

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.149

অপরিকলিতপূর্বঃ কশ্চমৎকারকারী

স্ফুরতি মম গরীয়ানেষ মাধুর্যপূরঃ ।

অয়মহমপি হন্ত প্রেক্ষ্য যং লুব্ধচেতাঃ

সরভসমুপভোক্তুং কাময়ে রাধিকেব ॥ ১৪৯ ॥

aparikalita-pūrvaḥ kaś camatkāra-kārī

sphurati mama garīyān eṣa mādhurya-pūraḥ

ayam aham api hanta prekṣya yaṁ lubdha-cetāḥ

sa-rabhasam upabhoktuṁ kāmaye rādhikeva

Translation

“ ‘Upon seeing His own reflection in a bejeweled pillar of His Dvārakā palace, Kṛṣṇa desired to embrace it, saying, “Alas, I have never seen such a person before. Who is He? Just by seeing Him I have become eager to embrace Him, exactly like Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.”’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Desires to Embrace His Reflection

  1. 1

    In His Dvārakā palace, Kṛṣṇa saw His own reflection in a bejeweled pillar. This description comes from Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Lalita-mādhava.

  2. 2

    Seeing the reflection, He exclaimed that He had never seen such a person before and asked who He was.

  3. 3

    Simply by seeing His reflection, Kṛṣṇa became eager to embrace it. He described His eagerness as exactly like Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a verse from Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī’s Lalita-mādhava (8.34).

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Deepening intimacy and revelation. Their exchange ascends from duty to pure love and the confidential moods of Vraja.

The mood of Madhya 8 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 8: Talks Between Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Rāmānanda Rāya

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

This conjugal love attains its highest perfection in Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love for Kṛṣṇa. He next described the position of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī and the transcendental mellows of love of God.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 8
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. aparikalita-pūrvaḥnot previously experienced
  2. kaḥwho
  3. camatkāra-kārīcausing wonder
  4. sphuratimanifests
  5. mamaMy
  6. garīyānmore great
  7. eṣaḥthis
  8. mādhurya-pūraḥabundance of sweetness
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Rādhā-bhāva · The confidential inner purpose

    The Lord’s desire to taste the love and perspective of Śrī Rādhā, illuminated by later ecstatic pastimes. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “rādhārāṇī”, “rādhārāṇī’s”

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 does Kṛṣṇa’s response to His reflection show you about His attractiveness?

Practice

Reread Kṛṣṇa’s words and note the comparison He makes with Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Desires to Embrace His ReflectionThis 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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