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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

1Say the verse. Read the transliteration aloud, slowly.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each word and its meaning.
3Read the translation. Ask: what is happening here, and who is it about?
4Read the purport slowly. Read it twice. Don't rush.
5See Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa. Remember who is acting in the pastime.
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 8.169 Madhya 8.171

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.170

সৌন্দর্য — কুঙ্কুম, সখী-প্রণয় চন্দন ।

স্মিতকান্তি — কর্পূর, তিনে — অঙ্গে বিলেপন ॥ ১৭০ ॥

saundarya — kuṅkuma, sakhī-praṇaya — candana

smita-kānti — karpūra, tine — aṅge vilepana

Translation

“Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s personal beauty is the reddish powder known as kuṅkuma, Her affection for Her associates is sandalwood pulp, and the sweetness of Her smile is camphor. All these, combined together, are smeared over Her body.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Rādhārāṇī’s Qualities Become Fragrant Adornments

1
Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s personal beauty is the reddish powder known as kuṅkuma.
2
Her affection for Her associates is sandalwood pulp.
3
The sweetness of Her smile is camphor. These three are combined and smeared over Her body.

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

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 summary Back to this verse in Madhya 8

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

saundaryaHer personal beauty
kuṅkumaa red powder known as kuṅkuma
sakhī-praṇayaHer love for Her associates
candanathe sandalwood pulp
smita-kāntithe sweetness of Her smile
karpūracamphor
tineby these three things
aṅgeon the body
vilepanasmearing

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’s”
Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association
Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “associates”
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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which of these three descriptions most helps you appreciate Rādhārāṇī’s qualities?

Practice

Write the three pairings: beauty with kuṅkuma, affection for associates with sandalwood pulp, and sweetness of smile with camphor.

Live this todayRādhārāṇī’s Qualities Become Fragrant AdornmentsThis 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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