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

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425
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 9.258Madhya 9.261

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Texts Madhya 9.259-260

শ্রবণং কীর্তনং বিষ্ণোঃ স্মরণং পাদসেবনম্ ।

অর্চনং বন্দনং দাস্যং সখ্যমাত্মনিবেদনম্ ॥ ২৫৯ ॥

śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ

smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam

arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ

sakhyam ātma-nivedanam

Translation

“ ‘This process entails hearing, chanting and remembering the holy name, form, pastimes, qualities and entourage of the Lord, offering service according to the time, place and performer, worshiping the Deity, offering prayers, always considering oneself the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa, making friends with Him and dedicating everything unto Him. These nine items of devotional service, when directly offered to Kṛṣṇa, constitute the highest attainment of life. This is the verdict of the revealed scriptures.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Nine Forms of Devotion to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Devotional service includes hearing, chanting and remembering the Lord’s holy name, form, pastimes, qualities and entourage.

  2. 2

    It also includes offering service according to time, place and performer, worshiping the Deity and offering prayers. The remaining items are considering oneself Kṛṣṇa’s eternal servant, making friends with Him and dedicating everything to Him.

  3. 3

    Directly offered to Kṛṣṇa, these nine items constitute the highest attainment of life, according to the revealed scriptures. Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quoted this teaching from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quoted these verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23-24).

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 9.259-260 quotesSB 7.5.23-24

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu quoted these verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.23-24).

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

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:

At the village of Uḍupī He saw the Gopāla Deity installed by Śrī Madhvācārya. He then defeated the Tattvavādīs in śāstric conversation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 9
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. śravaṇamhearing of the holy name, form, qualities, entourage and pastimes, all of which must pertain to Lord Viṣṇu
  2. kīrtanamvibrating transcendental sounds pertaining to the holy name, form, qualities and entourage, and inquiring about them (these also should be only in relationship to Viṣṇu)
  3. viṣṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
  4. smaraṇamremembering the holy name, form and entourage, and inquiring about them, also only for Viṣṇu
  5. pāda-sevanamexecuting devotional service according to time, circumstances and situation, only in relationship with Viṣṇu
  6. arcanamworshiping the Deity of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Lord Rāmacandra, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa or the other forms of Viṣṇu
  7. vandanamoffering prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. dāsyamalways thinking oneself an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • 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: “service”, “servant”, “offered”

  • 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: “chanting”, “holy name”

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

Which of these nine forms of devotional service can I offer directly to Kṛṣṇa today?

Practice

Spend a few minutes chanting Kṛṣṇa’s holy name as a direct offering of devotional service to Him.

Live this todayOffer Nine Forms of Devotion to KṛṣṇaThis 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 9.259-260? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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