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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 9.30

কৃষির্ভূবাচকঃ শব্দো ণশ্চ নির্বৃতিবাচকঃ ।

তয়োরৈক্যং পরং ব্রহ্ম কৃষ্ণ ইত্যভিধীয়তে ॥ ৩০ ॥

kṛṣir bhū-vācakaḥ śabdo

ṇaś ca nirvṛti-vācakaḥ

tayor aikyaṁ paraṁ brahma

kṛṣṇa ity abhidhīyate

Translation

“ ‘The word “kṛṣ” is the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence, and “ṇa” means spiritual pleasure. When the verb “kṛṣ” is added to the affix “ṇa,” it becomes “Kṛṣṇa,” which indicates the Absolute Truth.’

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Indicates the Absolute Truth

  1. 1

    The word “kṛṣ” describes the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence.

  2. 2

    “Ṇa” means spiritual pleasure; joined with “kṛṣ,” it forms “Kṛṣṇa,” indicating the Absolute Truth.

  3. 3

    This explanation of the name Kṛṣṇa comes from the Mahābhārata.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a verse from the Mahābhārata (Udyoga-parva 71.4).

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.64.29

The holy name of Kṛṣṇa is analyzed in a verse from the Mahābhārata (Udyoga-parva 71.4), which is quoted in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 9.30): “The word kṛṣ is the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence, and na means ‘spiritual pleasure.’

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:

Finally the Lord went to Śrī Raṅga-kṣetra, where He converted a brāhmaṇa named Veṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa, who, along with his family, took up devotional service to Kṛṣṇa. After leaving Śrī Raṅga, Caitanya Mahāprabhu reached Ṛṣabha-parvata, where He met Paramānanda Purī, who later arrived at Jagannātha Purī.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 9
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Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. kṛṣiḥthe verbal root kṛṣ
  2. bhūattractive existence
  3. vācakaḥsignifying
  4. śabdaḥword
  5. ṇaḥthe syllable ṇa
  6. caand
  7. nirvṛtispiritual pleasure
  8. vācakaḥindicating
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does this explanation help you reflect on the name Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Chant Kṛṣṇa’s name once, remembering the Lord’s attractiveness and spiritual pleasure.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 2 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 2 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Indicates the Absolute TruthThis 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 9.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.