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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 8.34 Madhya 8.36

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.35

কাহাঁ তুমি — সাক্ষাৎ ঈশ্বর নারায়ণ ।

কাহাঁ মুঞি — রাজসেবী বিষয়ী শূদ্রাধম ॥ ৩৫ ॥

kāhāṅ tumi — sākṣāt īśvara nārāyaṇa

kāhāṅ muñi — rāja-sevī viṣayī śūdrādhama

Translation

“You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa Himself, and I am only a government servant interested in materialistic activities. Indeed, I am the lowest among men of the fourth caste.

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.

Recognizing the Lord With Humility

1
The speaker recognizes the Lord as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa Himself.
2
He describes himself as only a government servant interested in materialistic activities.
3
Calling himself the lowest among men of the fourth caste, he speaks with deep humility.

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:

After introducing himself, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya requested Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu to remain in the village for some days. Honoring his request, Caitanya Mahāprabhu stayed there in the home of some Vedic brāhmaṇas.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in Madhya 8

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

kāhāṅwhereas
tumiYou
sākṣātdirectly
īśvara nārāyaṇathe Supreme Personality of Godhead
kāhāṅwhereas
muñiI
rāja-sevīgovernment servant
viṣayīmaterialist
śūdra-adhamaworse than a śūdra, or fourth-class man

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

Dainya & humility · Making room for grace
The humility expressed by the author, devotees, transformed scholars, renunciants, and the Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “lowest”, “humility”
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: “servant”

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

How can you acknowledge your material interests while approaching the Lord humbly?

Practice

In a brief prayer today, honestly acknowledge one material interest that occupies your attention.

Live this todayRecognizing the Lord With HumilityThis 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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