Synonyms divyam — transcendental; jñānam — knowledge; yataḥ — by which; dadyāt — imparts; kuryāt — for the matter of; pāpasya — of sinful activities; saṅkṣayam — complete destruction; tasmāt — therefore; dīkṣeti — initiation; sā — he; proktā — is called; deśikais — knows; tattva — revealed scriptures; kovidaiḥ — expert person.

Translation Dīkṣā is the process by which one can awaken his transcendental knowledge and vanquish all reactions caused by sinful activity. A person expert in the study of the revealed scriptures knows this process as dīkṣā. (Jīva Gosvāmī quoted in the purport to Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 15.108)

Synonyms yathā — as surely as; kāñcanatām — gold; yāti — turns; kāṁsyam — bell-metal; rasa — quicksilver (mercury); vidhānataḥ — in the prescribed fashion (i.e. by the alchemical process); tathā — in the same way; dīkṣā-vidhānena — by the proper process of initiation; dvijatvam — a brāhmaṇa; jāyate — he becomes; nṛṇām — a person.

Translation By chemical manipulation, bell metal is turned into gold when touched by mercury; similarly, when a person is properly initiated, he can acquire the qualities of a brāhmaṇa. (Jīva Gosvāmī, also Sanātana Gosvāmī in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 2.12)

Synonyms vairāgya — detachment from everything that does not help develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness; vidyā — knowledge; nija — own; bhakti-yoga — devotional service; śikṣa-artham — just to instruct; ekaḥ — the single person; puruṣaḥ — the Supreme Person; purāṇaḥ — very old, or eternal; śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya — of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu; śarīra-dhārī — accepting the body; kṛpā-ambudhiḥ — the ocean of transcendental mercy; yaḥ — who; tam — unto Him; aham — I; prapadye — surrender.

Translation Let me take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, who has descended in the form of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu to teach us real knowledge, His devotional service and detachment from whatever does not foster Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He has descended because He is an ocean of transcendental mercy. Let me surrender unto His lotus feet. (Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 6.254)

Synonyms ārādhyo — worshipable; bhagavān — the Supreme Lord; vraja-īśa-tanayaḥ — the son of Nanda Mahārāja; tad-dhāma — His abode; vṛndāvanam — Vṛndāvana; ramyā — pleasing; kācit — which; upāsanā — the process of worship; vraja-vadhū — the gopīs of Vṛndāvana; vargeṇa — by the group; yā — or; kalpitā — performed; śrīmad-bhāgavatam — Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam; pramāṇam — the standard authority; amalam — spotless; premā — pure love for Kṛṣṇa; pum-artho — the ultimate goal of life; mahān — great; śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhoḥ — Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa Caitanya Mahāprabhu; matam — opinion; idam — this; tatra — that; ādarāḥ — regard; naḥ — of us; paraḥ — the highest.

Translation The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the son of Nanda Mahārāja, is to be worshiped along with His transcendental abode, Vṛndāvana. The most pleasing form of worship for the Lord is that which was performed by the gopīs of Vṛndāvana. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is the spotless authority on everything, and pure love of God is the ultimate goal of life for all men. These statements, for which we have the highest regard, are the opinion of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

Synonyms śuciḥ — a brāhmaṇa purified internally and externally; sat-bhakti — of devotional service without motives; dīpta-agni — by the blazing fire; dagdha — burnt to ashes; durjāti — such as birth in a low family; kalmaṣaḥ — whose sinful reactions; śva-pākaḥ api — even though born in a family of dog eaters; budhaiḥ — by learned scholars; ślāgyaḥ — recognized; na — not; veda-jñaḥ api — even though completely conversant in Vedic knowledge; nāstikaḥ — an atheist.

Translation A person who has the pure characteristics of a brāhmaṇa due to devotional service, which is like a blazing fire burning to ashes all the sinful reactions of past lives, is certainly saved from the consequences of sinful acts, such as taking birth in a lower family. Even though he may be born in a family of dog-eaters, he is recognized by learned scholars. However, although a person may be a learned scholar in Vedic knowledge, he is not recognized if he is an atheist. (quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 19.74)

Synonyms bhagavat-bhakti-hīnasya — of a person devoid of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; jātiḥ — birth in a high caste; śāstram — knowledge in revealed scriptures; japaḥ — pronunciation of mantras; tapaḥ — austerities and penances; aprāṇasya — which is dead; iva — like; dehasya — of a body; maṇḍanam — decoration; loka — to the whims of people in general; rañjanam — simply pleasing.

Translation For a person devoid of devotional service, birth in a great family or nation, knowledge of revealed scripture, performance of austerities and penance, and chanting of Vedic mantras are all like ornaments on a dead body. Such ornaments simply serve the concocted pleasures of the general populace. (quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 19.75)

Synonyms sthāna-abhilāṣī — desiring a very high position in the material world; tapasi — in severe austerities and penances; sthitaḥ — situated; aham — I; tvām — You; prāptavān — have obtained; deva-muni-indra-guhyam — difficult to achieve even for great demigods, saintly persons and kings; kācam — a piece of glass; vicinvan — searching for; api — although; divya-ratnam — a transcendental gem; svāmin — O my Lord; kṛta-arthaḥ asmi — I am fully satisfied; varam — any benediction; na yāce — I do not ask.

Translation [When he was being benedicted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Dhruva Mahārāja said:] “O my Lord, because I was seeking an opulent material position, I was performing severe types of penance and austerity. Now I have gotten You, who are very difficult for the great demigods, saintly persons and kings to attain. I was searching after a piece of glass, but instead I have found a most valuable jewel. Therefore I am so satisfied that I do not wish to ask any benediction from You.” (quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 22.42)