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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 8.57Madhya 8.59

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.58

বর্ণাশ্রমাচারবতা পুরুষেণ পরঃ পুমান্ ।

বিষ্ণুরারাধ্যতে পন্থা নান্যত্তত্তোষকারণম্ ॥ ৫৮ ॥

varṇāśramācāra-vatā

puruṣeṇa paraḥ pumān

viṣṇur ārādhyate panthā

nānyat tat-toṣa-kāraṇam

Translation

“ ‘The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, is worshiped by the proper execution of prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama. There is no other way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One must be situated in the institution of the four varṇas and āśramas.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Life’s Perfection Is Satisfying the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu is worshiped by properly carrying out prescribed duties in the system of varṇa and āśrama.

  2. 2

    The translation stresses being situated in the four varṇas and āśramas as the way to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura explains the central teaching: one can realize life’s perfection simply by satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a quotation from the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (3.8.9).
  • As stated by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura in his Amṛta-pravāha-bhāṣya, “The purport is that one can realize life’s perfection simply by satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of CC Madhya 8.58 quotesSB 1.2.13

This is also confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.13):

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

First of all, Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya enunciated the system of the varṇāśrama institution. He recited various verses about karmārpaṇa, stating that everything should be dedicated to the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 8
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. varṇa-āśrama-ācāra-vatāwho behaves according to the system of four divisions of social order and four divisions of spiritual life
  2. puruṣeṇaby a man
  3. paraḥthe supreme
  4. pumānperson
  5. viṣṇuḥLord Viṣṇu
  6. ārādhyateis worshiped
  7. panthāway
  8. nanot
  9. anyatanother
  10. tat-toṣa-kāraṇamcause of satisfying the Lord
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I see satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the purpose of my duties?

Practice

Before one duty today, pause and remember that life’s perfection is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Live this todayLife’s Perfection Is Satisfying the Supreme LordThis 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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