Reading Selections

Suggested reading selections compiled by H.G. Bhūrijana Prabhu

Introduction by Gopikā Rādhikā Devī Dāsī (GBC SPT Research)

(GBC SPT Research- 23 March 2021)

Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī writes in Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā 25.278:

ye līlā-amṛta vine,     khāya yadi anna-pāne,

tabe bhaktera durbala jīvana

yāra eka-bindu-pāne,     utphullita tanu-mane,

hāse, gāya, karaye nartana

“Men become strong and stout by eating sufficient grains, but the devotee who simply eats ordinary grains but does not taste the transcendental pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Kṛṣṇa gradually becomes weak and falls down from the transcendental position. However, if one drinks but a drop of the nectar of Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, his body and mind begin to bloom, and he begins to laugh, sing and dance.”

The transcendental pastimes of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu are the life-sustaining force of the devotees—an ambrosia to be had in abundance from the pages of Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

In an attempt to facilitate devotees’ reading and discussions of this transcendental literature, provided below is a valuable compilation by H.G. Bhūrijana Prabhu. It offers pastime/topic-wise verse groupings that can aid devotees in having specific, theme-focused reading or discussion sessions from the Caitanya-caritāmṛta. These story selections are also an invaluable resource to help familiarize children with the engrossing pastimes of Lord Caitanya and develop a lifelong relationship with the Caitanya-caritāmṛta.

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Ādi-līlā

Title	Chapter	Verses
Śrīla Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja attains Vṛndāvana	5	156-204
Lord Caitanya converts the Māyāvādīs	7	38-110; 147-171
The advent of Lord Caitanya	13	63-124
Lord Caitanya’s childhood pastimes	14	1-97
The Lord’s pastimes between the ages of five and ten	15	1-34
Pastimes of the Lord just before His youth	16	1-111
Pastimes of the Lord in His youth	17	1-120
The Lord defeats the Kazi	17	121-226
Lord Caitanya takes sannyāsa	17	227-292

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā

Title	Chapter	Verses
Summary of Lord Caitanya’s pastimes after taking sannyāsa until Rāmakeli	1	46-166
Lord Caitanya delivers Rūpa and Sanātana	1	167-227
The Lord travels throughout India and returns to Jagannātha Purī	1	228-287
Lord Caitanya takes sannyāsa and takes prasāda at the house of Advaita Ācārya	3	1-107
The Lord’s pastimes at the house of Advaita Ācārya	3	108-219
Mādhavendra Purī worships Gopāla	4	10-109
Mādhavendra Purī brings sandalwood	4	110-213
The activities of Sākṣi-gopāla	5	1-139
Lord Caitanya enters Jagannātha Purī	5; 6	140-161 (chapter 5); 1-39 (chapter 6)
Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya meets Lord Caitanya	6	40-113
The liberation of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya	6	114-140; 176-286
The Lord desires to go on tour	7	1-90
The Lord tours South India	7	91-155
The Lord’s meeting with Rāmānanda Rāya	8	1-68; 260-313
Lord Caitanya visits Raṅga-kṣetra	9	1-107
The Lord converts Vyeṅkaṭa Bhaṭṭa	9	108-165
Lord Caitanya travels to the holy places	9	166-258; 276-302
The Lord returns to Jagannātha Purī	9	303-365
The devotees come to Jagannātha Purī	10	1-101
The Vaiṣṇavas meet the Lord	10	102-190
Mahārāja Pratāparudra’s affection for the Lord	11	1-64
The devotees from Bengal visit Jagannātha Purī	11	65-185
The Beḍā-kīrtana pastimes	11	186-243
Lord Caitanya favors Mahārāja Pratāparudra	12	1-69
The cleansing of the Guṇḍicā temple	12	70-152
The Lord’s activities before Ratha-yātrā	12	153-222
The Lord’s dancing at Ratha-yātrā	13	1-33; 162-209
Performance of the Vṛndāvana pastimes	14	1-105
The Lord’s pastimes with His devotees	15	1-92
The devotees return to Bengal	15	92-185
Lord Caitanya takes prasāda at the home of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya	15	186-302
The Lord’s activities in Jagannātha Purī	16	1-86
The Lord leaves Jagannātha Purī	16	87-201
The Lord attempts to go to Vṛndāvana	16	202-290
The Lord leaves for Vṛndāvana	17	1-81
The Lord’s activities in Benares	17	82-148
The Lord reaches Mathurā	17	149-234
The Lord visits Vṛndāvana and sees Gopāla	18	1-56
Kṛṣṇa is again in Vṛndāvana	18	57-127
Lord Caitanya leaves Vṛndāvana	18	128-229
The Lord meets Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī	19	1-60
The Lord meets Vallabha Bhaṭṭācārya	19	61-91
The Lord instructs Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī	19	92-140; 235-257
The Lord meets Sanātana Gosvāmī	20	1-61
The Lord instructs Sanātana Gosvāmī	20	62-118
Lord Caitanya tells the story of Mṛgāri the hunter	24	229-282
The Lord distributes Love of God to the Māyāvādīs	25	60-101; 154-185
The Lord meets Subuddhi Rāya and returns to Jagannātha Purī	25	186-238
Summary of the Lord’s Madhya-līlā pastimes	25	239-283

Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta Antya-līlā

Title	Chapter	Verses
Rūpa Gosvāmī’s meeting the Lord	1	1-92
The transcendental writings of Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī	1	93-133
The glories of Nakula Brahmacārī and Nṛsiṁhānanda Brahmacārī	2	1-83
The chastisement of Junior Haridāsa	2	84-172
The Lord’s dealings with Dāmodara Paṇḍita	3	1-47
The story of Haridāsa Ṭhākura and Rāmacandra Khān	3	93-164
Further pastimes of Śrīla Haridāsa Ṭhākura	3	165-272
Sanātana Gosvāmī meets Lord Caitanya	4	1-114
The glories of Sanātana Gosvāmī	4	115-239
The chipped rice festival	6	1-144
Raghunātha attains shelter	6	145-205
The glories of Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī	6	206-329
The story of Rāmacandra Purī	8	1-103
The Lord saves Gopīnātha Paṭṭanāyaka	9	1-58
The Lord’s mercy to the family of Bhavānanda Rāya	9	59-153
Rāghava’s bag	10	1-80
The Lord takes prasāda	10	81-162
The passing away of Haridāsa Ṭhākura	11	1-108
The Bengali devotees in Jagannātha Purī	12	1-85
The love of Jagadānanda	12	86-155
Jagadānanda goes to Vṛndāvana	13	1-77
The story of Raghunātha Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī	13	78-139
The Lord’s feelings of separation (part 1)	14	1-40
The Lord’s feelings of separation (part 2)	14	54-123
Lord Caitanya’s mercy to Kālidāsa	16	1-64
The Lord tastes nectar	16	65-115
The Lord’s bodily changes	17	1-29; 59-73
Rescuing Lord Caitanya from the sea (part 1)	18	1-87
Rescuing Lord Caitanya from the sea (part 2)	18	100-121