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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 9.362Madhya 9.364

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 9.363

চৈতন্যচন্দ্রের লীলা — অগাধ, গম্ভীর ।

প্রবেশ করিতে নারি, — স্পর্শি রহি’ তীর ॥ ৩৬৩ ॥

caitanya-candrera līlā — agādha, gambhīra

praveśa karite nāri, — sparśi rahi’ tīra

Translation

The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are just like an unfathomable ocean. It is not possible for me to enter into it. Simply standing on the shore, I am but touching the water.

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.

Touching the Shore of Unlimited Pastimes

  1. 1

    The pastimes of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are compared to an unfathomable ocean.

  2. 2

    The author says that he cannot enter this ocean.

  3. 3

    He describes himself as standing on the shore and merely touching the water.

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:

Thus the Lord visited almost all the holy places in South India. He finally returned to Jagannātha Purī by taking the same route, after visiting Vidyānagara again.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 9
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. caitanya-candrera līlāthe pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu
  2. agādhaunfathomable
  3. gambhīradeep
  4. praveśa kariteto enter into
  5. nāriI am unable
  6. sparśiI touch
  7. rahi’ tīrastanding on the bank
3

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might this image help you approach these pastimes with humility?

Practice

Pause over the image of standing on the shore, and acknowledge how much remains beyond your understanding.

Live this todayTouching the Shore of Unlimited PastimesThis 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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