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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 9: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Travels to the Holy Places
Madhya 9.203Madhya 9.205

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 9.204

সীতা লঞা রাখিলেন পার্বতীর স্থানে ।

‘মায়াসীতা’ দিয়া অগ্নি বঞ্চিলা রাবণে ॥ ২০৪ ॥

sītā lañā rākhilena pārvatīra sthāne

‘māyā-sītā’ diyā agni vañcilā rāvaṇe

Translation

The fire-god, Agni, took away the real Sītā and brought her to the place of Pārvatī, goddess Durgā. An illusory form of mother Sītā was then delivered to Rāvaṇa, and in this way Rāvaṇa was cheated.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Rāvaṇa Receives Only an Illusory Sītā

  1. 1

    The fire-god, Agni, took away the real Sītā.

  2. 2

    He brought her to the place of Pārvatī, goddess Durgā.

  3. 3

    An illusory form of mother Sītā was delivered to Rāvaṇa. In this way, Rāvaṇa was cheated.

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:

He also visited Rāmeśvara, where He collected some papers connected with Sītādevī, whose illusory form had been kidnapped by Rāvaṇa. The Lord next visited the places known as Pāṇḍya-deśa, the Tāmraparṇī River, Naya-tripati, Ciyaḍatalā, Tila-kāñcī, Gajendra-mokṣaṇa, Pānāgaḍi, Cāmtāpura, Śrī Vaikuṇṭha, Malaya-parvata and Kanyā-kumārī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 9
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. sītā lañātaking away mother Sītā
  2. rākhilenakept
  3. pārvatīra sthānewith mother Pārvatī, or goddess Durgā
  4. māyā-sītāthe false, illusory form of Sītā
  5. diyādelivering
  6. agnifire-god
  7. vañcilācheated
  8. rāvaṇethe demon Rāvaṇa
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Kṛpā & transformation · Mercy changes a life

    Transformative encounters with grace, from scholars and travelers to renunciants and householders. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “delivered”

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 distinction between the real Sītā and her illusory form clarify this account?

Practice

Make two brief notes: where the real Sītā was brought, and what Rāvaṇa received.

Live this todayRāvaṇa Receives Only an Illusory SītāThis 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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