CC Madhya 24.25

Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā, Chapter 24: The Sixty-One Explanations of the Atmārāma Verse

CC Madhya 24.24

CC Madhya 24.26

His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

TEXT 25

’kurvanti’-pada ei parasmaipada haya
kṛṣṇa-sukha-nimitta bhajane tātparya kahaya

SYNONYMS

kurvanti-pada—the word kurvanti; ei—this; parasmai-pada—a verb form indicating things done for others; haya—is; kṛṣṇa-sukha-nimitta—to satisfy Kṛṣṇa; bhajane—in devotional service; tātparya—the purport; kahaya—is said.

TRANSLATION

“The word ‘kurvanti’ means ‘they do something for others,’ since it is a form of the verb ‘to do’ indicating things done for others. It is used in connection with devotional service, which must be executed for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. That is the purport of the word ‘kurvanti.’

PURPORT

In Sanskrit the verb “to do” has two forms, technically called parasmai-pada and ātmane-pada. When things are done for one’s personal satisfaction, the form is called ātmane-pada. In that case, the word “do” in English is kurvate in Sanskrit. When things are done for others, the verb form changes to kurvanti. Thus Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu informed Sanātana Gosvāmī that in the ātmārāma verse the verb kurvanti means that things should be done only for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa. This is supported by the grammarian Pāṇini. The verb is formed as ātmane-pada when the work is to be done for one’s own benefit, and when it is done for others, it is called parasmai-pada. Thus the verb is formed according to whether something is done for one’s self-satisfaction or for another’s satisfaction.