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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

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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 8.189Madhya 8.191

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.190

বাচা সূচিতশর্বরীরতিকলা-প্রাগল্ভ্যয়া রাধিকাং

ব্রীড়াকুঞ্চিত-লোচনাং বিরচয়ন্নগ্রে সখীনামসৌ ।

তদ্বক্ষোরুহচিত্রকেলিমকরীপাণ্ডিত্যপারং গতঃ

কৈশোরং সফলীকরোতি কলয়ন্ কুঞ্জে বিহারং হরিঃ ॥” ১৯০॥

vācā sūcita-śarvarī-rati-kalā-prāgalbhyayā rādhikāṁ

vrīḍā-kuñcita-locanāṁ viracayann agre sakhīnām asau

tad-vakṣoruha-citra-keli-makarī-pāṇḍitya-pāraṁ gataḥ

kaiśoraṁ saphalī-karoti kalayan kuñje vihāraṁ hariḥ

Translation

“ ‘Thus Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke of the sexual activities of the previous night. In this way He made Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī close Her eyes out of shyness. Taking this opportunity, Śrī Kṛṣṇa painted various types of dolphins on Her breasts. Thus He became a very expert artist for all the gopīs. During such pastimes, the Lord enjoyed the fulfillment of His youth.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa’s Artistry in His Loving Pastimes

  1. 1

    Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa spoke about the previous night’s intimate activities, making Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī close Her eyes in shyness.

  2. 2

    Taking that opportunity, He painted various dolphins on Her breasts and became a very expert artist for all the gopīs.

  3. 3

    During these pastimes, the Lord enjoyed the fulfillment of His youth.

Key points from the purport
  • This quotation is also found in the Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu (2.1.119).

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
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. vācāby speech
  2. sūcitarevealing
  3. śarvarīof the night
  4. ratiin amorous pastimes
  5. kalāof the portion
  6. prāgalbhyayāthe impudence
  7. rādhikāmŚrīmatī Rādhārāṇī
  8. vrīḍāfrom shame
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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

What does this description reveal about Kṛṣṇa’s playfulness and artistry?

Practice

Note the translation’s concluding teaching: the Lord enjoyed the fulfillment of His youth through these pastimes.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa’s Artistry in His Loving PastimesThis 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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