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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

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 ›

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 9.123

নিভৃতমরুন্মনোঽক্ষদৃঢ়যোগযুজো হৃদি য-

ন্মুনয় উপাসতে তদরয়োঽপি যযুঃ স্মরণাৎ ।

স্ত্রিয় উরগেন্দ্র-ভোগভুজদণ্ডবিষক্ত-ধিয়ো

বয়মপি তে সমাঃ সমদৃশোঽঙ্ঘ্রিসরোজসুধাঃ ॥ ১২৩ ॥

nibhṛta-marun-mano-’kṣa-dṛḍha-yoga-yujo hṛdi yan-

munaya upāsate tad arayo ’pi yayuḥ smaraṇāt

striya uragendra-bhoga-bhuja-daṇḍa-viṣakta-dhiyo

vayam api te samāḥ samadṛśo ’ṅghri-saroja-sudhāḥ

Translation

“ ‘Great sages conquer the mind and senses by practicing the mystic yoga system and controlling the breath. Thus engaging in mystic yoga, they see the Supersoul within their hearts and ultimately enter into impersonal Brahman. But even the enemies of the Supreme Personality of Godhead attain that position simply by thinking of the Supreme Lord. However, the damsels of Vraja, the gopīs, being attracted by the beauty of Kṛṣṇa, simply wanted to embrace Him and His arms, which are like serpents. Thus the gopīs ultimately tasted the nectar of the lotus feet of the Lord. Similarly, we Upaniṣads can also taste the nectar of His lotus feet by following in the footsteps of the gopīs.’”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Following the Gopīs to Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus Feet

  1. 1

    Great sages control the mind, senses and breath through mystic yoga, see the Supersoul within their hearts, and ultimately enter impersonal Brahman. Even the Lord’s enemies attain that position simply by thinking of Him.

  2. 2

    The gopīs were attracted by Kṛṣṇa’s beauty and wanted to embrace Him and His serpentlike arms. They ultimately tasted the nectar of His lotus feet.

  3. 3

    The Upaniṣads declare that they too can taste the nectar of His lotus feet by following in the footsteps of the gopīs.

How it feels

Wonder and inclusion. Meetings across sacred places display the broad reach of devotional mercy.

The mood of Madhya 9 as a whole, an editorial reading, not the text itself. See the emotional atlas

Further reading

Madhya 9: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Travels to the Holy Places

From Śrīla Prabhupāda's chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

On the hill known as Mahendra-śaila, the Lord saw Paraśurāma. Then the Lord went to Setubandha and took His bath at Dhanus-tīrtha.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 9
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. nibhṛtacontrolled
  2. marutthe life air
  3. manaḥthe mind
  4. akṣathe senses
  5. dṛḍhastrong
  6. yogain the mystic yoga process
  7. yujaḥwho are engaged
  8. hṛdiwithin the heart
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “vraja”, “gopīs”

  • 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”

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

What stands out to me about the gopīs’ attraction to Kṛṣṇa compared with the other approaches described?

Practice

Reread the words spoken by the Upaniṣads and write one sentence about whom they seek to follow.

Live this todayFollowing the Gopīs to Kṛṣṇa’s Lotus FeetThis 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 9.123? Get an answer from the verses themselves.