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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 9: Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s Travels to the Holy Places
Madhya 9.262Madhya 9.264

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 9.263

কর্মনিন্দা, কর্মত্যাগ, সর্বশাস্ত্রে কহে ।

কর্ম হৈতে প্রেমভক্তি কৃষ্ণে কভু নহে ॥ ২৬৩ ॥

karma-nindā, karma-tyāga, sarva-śāstre kahe

karma haite prema-bhakti kṛṣṇe kabhu nahe

Translation

“In every revealed scripture there is condemnation of fruitive activities. It is advised everywhere to give up engagement in fruitive activities, for no one can attain the highest goal of life, love of Godhead, by executing them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Leads to Love of Godhead

  1. 1

    Neither fruitive activities nor speculative knowledge can bring love of Godhead. Ultimately, one is advised to abandon both and accept devotional service.

  2. 2

    Dedicating one’s activities to the Supreme Lord helps relieve mental pollution and elevate one to the spiritual platform. Association with a pure devotee is then necessary to become a pure devotee of Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    In pure devotional service, hearing and chanting are essential. The nine items of devotional service completely purify one and enable one to execute Kṛṣṇa’s orders.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Vedas there are three kāṇḍas, or divisions: karma-kāṇḍa, jñāna-kāṇḍa and upāsanā-kāṇḍa.
  • The karma-kāṇḍa portion stresses the execution of fruitive activities.
  • One cannot attain love of Godhead by executing karma-kāṇḍa or jñāna-kāṇḍa.

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 9.263 quotesBG 18.65

Only then is one able to execute Kṛṣṇa’s orders in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.65, 66):

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:

The Lord next visited Phalgu-tīrtha, Tritakūpa, Pañcāpsarā, Sūrpāraka and Kolāpura. At Pāṇḍarapura the Lord received news from Śrī Raṅga Purī that Śaṅkarāraṇya (Viśvarūpa) had disappeared there.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 9
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. karma-nindācondemnation of fruitive activities
  2. karma-tyāgarenunciation of fruitive activities
  3. sarva-śāstre kaheis announced in every revealed scripture
  4. karma haitefrom fruitive activities
  5. prema-bhaktidevotional service in ecstatic love
  6. kṛṣṇefor Kṛṣṇa
  7. kabhu nahecan never be achieved
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Sādhu-saṅga · Love grows through association

    Spiritual association shapes the movement, empowers disciples, and reveals truths through loving conversations. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “association”, “pure devotee”

  • 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 of godhead”

  • 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”

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

Am I seeking personal rewards through my activities, or dedicating them to the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Choose one activity today and consciously dedicate it to the Supreme Lord.

Live this todayPure Devotion Leads to Love of GodheadThis 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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