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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

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 8.165

‘মহাভাব-চিন্তামণি’ রাধার স্বরূপ ।

ললিতাদি সখী — তাঁর কায়ব্যূহরূপ ॥ ১৬৫ ॥

‘mahābhāva-cintāmaṇi’ rādhāra svarūpa

lalitādi sakhī — tāṅra kāya-vyūha-rūpa

Translation

“Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is the topmost spiritual gem, and the other gopīs — Lalitā, Viśākhā and so on — are expansions of Her spiritual body.

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.

Rādhārāṇī Is the Topmost Spiritual Gem

  1. 1

    Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī is described as the topmost spiritual gem.

  2. 2

    The other gopīs are expansions of Her spiritual body.

  3. 3

    Lalitā and Viśākhā are named among these gopīs.

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. mahā-bhāvaof the topmost spiritual ecstasy
  2. cintā-maṇithe touchstone
  3. rādhāra svarūpathe transcendental form of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī
  4. lalitā-ādi sakhīthe gopī associates of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī
  5. tāṅra kāya-vyūha-rūpaexpansions of Her spiritual body
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”

  • Vraja-smaraṇa · Remembrance of Vṛndāvana

    The remembered sweetness of Vraja that colors Mahāprabhu’s pilgrimage, Ratha-yātrā, and later states of separation. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “gopīs”

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 does seeing the other gopīs as expansions of Rādhārāṇī’s spiritual body deepen your appreciation of their relationship?

Practice

Write one sentence summarizing the relationship between Rādhārāṇī and the other gopīs.

Live this todayRādhārāṇī Is the Topmost Spiritual GemThis 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 8.165? Get an answer from the verses themselves.