1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta with its Bengali, transliteration, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by līlā and chapter

Madhya-līlā · 25 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

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 8.97 Madhya 8.99

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 8.98

ইঁহার মধ্যে রাধার প্রেম — ‘সাধ্যশিরোমণি’ ।

যাঁহার মহিমা সর্বশাস্ত্রেতে বাখানি ॥ ৯৮ ॥

iṅhāra madhye rādhāra prema — ‘sādhya-śiromaṇi’

yāṅhāra mahimā sarva-śāstrete vākhāni

Translation

“Among the loving affairs of the gopīs,” Rāmānanda Rāya continued, “Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa is topmost. Indeed, the glories of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī are highly esteemed in all revealed scriptures.

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.

Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s Love Is Topmost

1
Rāmānanda Rāya describes the loving affairs of the gopīs.
2
Among them, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love for Śrī Kṛṣṇa is topmost.
3
Her glories are highly esteemed in all revealed scriptures.

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.

iṅhāra madhyeamong the loving affairs of the gopīs
rādhāra premathe love of Godhead of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī
sādhya-śiromaṇithe topmost perfection
yāṅhāraof which
mahimāthe glories
sarva-śāstretein every scripture
vākhānidescription

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

Prema · Love of Godhead
The culminating devotional purpose that unites the narration: bestowed, cultivated, taught, celebrated, and tasted. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “love”
Rādhā-bhāva · The confidential inner purpose
The Lord’s desire to taste the love and perspective of Śrī Rādhā, illuminated by later ecstatic pastimes. · In the Prema Atlas
In this verse: “rādhārāṇī’s”
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: “gopīs”

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 verse help me appreciate about Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and reflect for a moment on the greatness of Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s love.

Live this todayŚrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s Love Is TopmostThis 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.

Ask Caitanya CaritamrtaHave a question about CC Madhya 8.98? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 9 · 2 minAsk Caitanya CaritamrtaBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the book's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnLīlās & chapters