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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 8.71Madhya 8.73

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.72

যন্নামশ্রুতিমাত্রেণ পুমান্ ভবতি নির্মলঃ ।

তস্য তীর্থপদঃ কিংবা দাসানামবশিষ্যতে ॥ ৭২ ॥

yan-nāma-śruti-mātreṇa

pumān bhavati nirmalaḥ

tasya tīrtha-padaḥ kiṁ vā

dāsānām avaśiṣyate

Translation

“ ‘A man becomes purified simply by hearing the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, whose lotus feet create the holy places of pilgrimage. Therefore what remains to be attained by those who have become His servants?’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing the Holy Name Purifies

  1. 1

    Simply hearing the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead immediately sanctifies a person.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s lotus feet create the holy places of pilgrimage. The verse asks what remains to be attained by those who have become His servants.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Lord is the master of His devotees. Under His shelter, they naturally come to own His opulences.

Key points from the purport
  • When he decided to chastise Mahārāja Ambarīṣa through his yogic powers, he was chased by the Sudarśana cakra of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • When things were settled, he said, “When the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is heard by any person, that person is immediately sanctified.
  • The Supreme Lord is master of the devotees, and the devotees, under His shelter, naturally come to own His opulences.”

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 8.72 quotesSB 9.5.16

This is a quotation from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (9.5.16) and is an admission by the great sage Durvāsā Muni.

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:

After hearing Śrīla Rāmānanda Rāya recite some verses, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu accepted the principle of pure devotional service devoid of all kinds of speculation. After this, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu asked Rāmānanda Rāya to explain the higher platform of devotional service.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 8
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. yatof whom
  2. nāmaof the name
  3. śruti-mātreṇasimply by hearing
  4. pumāna person
  5. bhavatibecomes
  6. nirmalaḥpure
  7. tasyaof Him
  8. tīrtha-padaḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose lotus feet are all places of pilgrimage
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “lotus feet”, “shelter”

  • Nāma-saṅkīrtana · The holy name shared together

    Chanting the holy names as the yuga-dharma, the Lord’s public movement, and the opening prayer of Śikṣāṣṭaka. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “holy name”

  • 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: “servants”

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

How does the purifying power of hearing the holy name deepen my appreciation of becoming the Lord’s servant?

Practice

Take a few quiet minutes today to listen attentively to the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Live this todayHearing the Holy Name PurifiesThis 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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