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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 8.289Madhya 8.291

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.290

গুপ্তে রাখিহ, কাহাঁ না করিও প্রকাশ ।

আমার বাতুল-চেষ্টা লোকে উপহাস ॥ ২৯০ ॥

gupte rākhiha, kāhāṅ nā kario prakāśa

āmāra bātula-ceṣṭā loke upahāsa

Translation

The Lord then requested Rāmānanda Rāya, “Keep all these talks a secret. Please do not expose them anywhere and everywhere. Since My activities appear to be like those of a madman, people may take them lightly and laugh.”

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.

Confidential Talks Deserve Care

  1. 1

    The Lord asked Rāmānanda Rāya to keep their talks secret.

  2. 2

    He requested that these talks not be exposed anywhere and everywhere.

  3. 3

    His activities could appear like those of a madman, so people might take them lightly and laugh.

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:

Gradually Rāmānanda Rāya could understand the position of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, and when Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu exhibited His real form, Rāmānanda Rāya fell unconscious. After some days, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Rāmānanda Rāya to retire from government service and come to Jagannātha Purī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 8
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. guptein secret
  2. rākhihakeep
  3. kāhāṅanywhere
  4. nānot
  5. kariomake
  6. prakāśaexposure
  7. āmāraMy
  8. bātula-ceṣṭāactivities like a madman
  9. lokeamong the general people
  10. upahāsalaughter
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you show care for teachings that others might take lightly?

Practice

Before sharing these confidential talks today, pause to consider whether they will be received respectfully.

Live this todayConfidential Talks Deserve CareThis 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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