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 9.97Madhya 9.99

Śrī Caitanya Caritamrta · Text Madhya 9.98

বিপ্র কহে, — মূর্খ আমি, শব্দার্থ না জানি ।

শুদ্ধাশুদ্ধ গীতা পড়ি, গুরু-আজ্ঞা মানি’ ॥ ৯৮ ॥

vipra kahe, — mūrkha āmi, śabdārtha nā jāni

śuddhāśuddha gītā paḍi, guru-ājñā māni’

Translation

The brāhmaṇa replied, “I am illiterate and therefore do not know the meaning of the words. Sometimes I read the Bhagavad-gītā correctly and sometimes incorrectly, but in any case I am doing this in compliance with the orders of my spiritual master.”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Success Through Following the Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    The brāhmaṇa did not know the meaning of the words and sometimes read incorrectly. Still, he read in compliance with his spiritual master’s orders.

  2. 2

    His reading attracted the attention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, even though his pronunciation was not always correct.

  3. 3

    His spiritual success did not depend on material qualifications such as correct pronunciation. It depended on strictly following his spiritual master’s instructions.

Key points from the purport
  • This is a good example of a person who had become so successful that he was able to capture the attention of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu even while reading the Bhagavad-gītā incorrectly.
  • His spiritual activities did not depend on material things such as correct pronunciation.
  • Rather, his success depended on strictly following the instructions of his spiritual master.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

A brāhmaṇa devotee of Lord Rāmacandra talked with Him. Then the Lord took His bath in the river Kṛtamālā.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in Madhya 9
2

Word for word

Learn the words of the verse.

  1. vipra kahethe brāhmaṇa replied
  2. mūrkha āmiI am illiterate
  3. śabda-arthathe meaning of the words
  4. nā jāniI do not know
  5. śuddha-aśuddhasometimes correct and sometimes not correct
  6. gītāthe Bhagavad-gītā
  7. paḍiI read
  8. guru-ājñāthe order of my spiritual master
  9. māni’accepting
3

Key ideas in this verse

The themes of love and mercy this verse speaks of.

  • Śaraṇāgati · Taking shelter

    Turning toward Kṛṣṇa through shelter, surrender, dependence on guru, and unconditional devotional fidelity. · In the Prema Atlas

    In this verse: “depend”

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 this example help you distinguish faithful obedience from perfect performance?

Practice

Write down one instruction you have received from your spiritual master and take one small step to follow it today.

Live this todaySuccess Through Following the Spiritual MasterThis 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 9.98? 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