Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 14

The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult

Devanagari script

स चाहेदमहो कष्टं वृथात्मा मेऽनुतापित: । न धर्माय न कामाय यस्यार्थायास ईद‍ृश: ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sa cāhedam aho kaṣṭaṁ vṛthātmā me ’nutāpitaḥ na dharmāya na kāmāya yasyārthāyāsa īdṛśaḥ

Translation

ব্রাহ্মণ বললেন— হায়, কী মহা দুর্ভাগ্য! আমি বৃথাই নিজেকে কষ্ট দিয়েছি; যে ধনের জন্য এত পরিশ্রম, তা না ধর্মের জন্য, না ভোগের জন্য।

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; said)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/object of आह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अहो: alas/oh
• अहो: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अहो (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; exclamation/particle

• कष्टम्: misery/trouble
• कष्टम्: Karma (कर्म/content of speech)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; exclamatory nominal ‘misery’

• वृथा-आत्मा: one living in vain
• वृथा-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘one whose self/life is in vain’

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; enclitic ‘of me/my’

• अनुतापितः: tormented
• अनुतापितः: Visheshana (विशेषण of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु + तप् (धातु) → अनुतापित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘made to suffer/tormented’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation

• धर्माय: for virtue/duty
• धर्माय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/dative-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative of purpose

• न: nor
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; negation

• कामाय: for pleasure/desire
• कामाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/dative-purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; dative of purpose

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; relative pronoun

• अर्थ-आयासः: toil for wealth
• अर्थ-आयासः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ + आयास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘toil for wealth’ (अर्थस्य आयासः)

• ईदृशः: such (as this)
• ईदृशः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईदृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative adjective qualifying अर्थ-आयासः

Characters & Entities

• Avadhuta Brahmana (Dattatreya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about working hard only for money?

This verse laments that intense labor for wealth becomes ‘in vain’ when it is not used for dharma (righteous purpose) or higher spiritual fulfillment—showing that mere accumulation without spiritual direction leads to regret.

Why does the Avadhuta Brahmana express regret in this verse?

He highlights the inner suffering caused by fruitless striving: when wealth is pursued without aligning life to dharma and spiritual progress, the soul feels tormented and dissatisfied, prompting repentance.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Earn and plan responsibly, but consciously connect your work to dharma—ethical living, service, charity, and devotion—so effort does not end in emptiness and regret.