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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 8.230 Madhya 8.232

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.231

তাহাতে দৃষ্টান্ত — লক্ষ্মী করিল ভজন ।

তথাপি না পাইল ব্রজে ব্রজেন্দ্রনন্দন ॥ ২৩১ ॥

tāhāte dṛṣṭānta — lakṣmī karila bhajana

tathāpi nā pāila vraje vrajendra-nandana

Translation

“The unspoken example in this connection is the goddess of fortune, who worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa in order to attain His pastimes in Vṛndāvana. But due to her opulent life-style, she could not attain the service of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.

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.

Opulence Cannot Grant Service in Vṛndāvana

1
The goddess of fortune worshiped Lord Kṛṣṇa with the desire to attain His pastimes in Vṛndāvana.
2
Despite her worship, she could not attain the service of Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana.
3
The translation identifies her opulent life-style as the reason she could not attain that service.

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.

tāhātein that
dṛṣṭāntathe evidence
lakṣmīthe goddess of fortune
kariladid
bhajanaworship
tathāpistill
nānot
pāilagot
vrajein Vṛndāvana
vrajendra-nandanathe son of Mahārāja Nanda, Kṛṣṇa

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

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: “vṛndāvana”
Sevā · Love translated into service
Devotional service expressed through cleansing, caring, teaching, honoring others, and living as Kṛṣṇa’s servant. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “service”

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

What does this example teach me about the limits of opulence in approaching Kṛṣṇa’s service?

Practice

Take one minute to reflect on the difference between seeking opulence and seeking service to Kṛṣṇa.

Live this todayOpulence Cannot Grant Service in VṛndāvanaThis 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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