tava kathāmṛtaḿ tapta-jīvanaḿ
kavibhir īḍitaḿ kalmaṣāpaham
śravaṇa-mańgalaḿ śrīmad ātataḿ
bhuvi gṛṇanti ye bhūri-dā janāḥ
tava -- Your; katha-amritam -- the nectar of words; tapta-jivanam -- life for those aggrieved in the material world; kavibhih -- by great thinkers; iditam -- described; kalmasha-apaham -- that which drives away sinful reactions; sravana-mangalam -- giving spiritual benefit when heard; sriimat -- filled with spiritual power; atatam -- broadcast all over the world; bhuvi -- in the material world; grinanti -- chant and spread; ye -- those who; bhuri-dah -- most beneficent; janah -- persons.
The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent.
King Prataparudra recited this verse to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu during Lord Jagannatha's Ratha-yatra festival. While the Lord was resting in a garden, King Prataparudra humbly entered and began massaging His legs and lotus feet. Then the King recited the Thirty-first Chapter of the Tenth Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, the songs of the gopis. The Caitanya-caritamrita relates that when Lord Caitanya heard this verse, beginning tava kathamritam, He immediately arose in ecstatic love and embraced King Prataparudra. The incident is described in detail in the Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya 14.4-18), and in his edition Srila Prabhupada has given extensive commentary on it.
