Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

भिद्यन्ते भ्रातरो दारा: पितर: सुहृदस्तथा । एकास्‍निग्धा: काकिणिना सद्य: सर्वेऽरय: कृता: ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

bhidyante bhrātaro dārāḥ pitaraḥ suhṛdas tathā ekāsnigdhāḥ kākiṇinā sadyaḥ sarve ’rayaḥ kṛtāḥ

Translation

Wegen einer einzigen Münze zerbrechen selbst Brüder, Ehefrau, Eltern und Freunde, die in Liebe verbunden waren, sogleich und werden zu Feinden.

Synonyms

• भिद्यन्ते: are split / become divided
• भिद्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मणि-प्रयोग/मध्यार्थ (are split/come to be divided)

• भ्रातरः: brothers
• भ्रातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)

• दाराः: wives
• दाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)

• पितरः: fathers/parents
• पितरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)

• सुहृदः: friends
• सुहृदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)

• तथा: also, likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/उपपद (adverb/conj.: 'also/likewise')

• एक: formerly united/one
• एक: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural); (with स्निग्धाः)

• स्निग्धाः: affectionate
• स्निग्धाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्निग्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)

• काकिणिना: by a kākiṇī (small coin)
• काकिणिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sing.); अल्प-धन-परिमाण (a small coin)

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण/सर्वनाम-प्राय; पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)

• अरयः: enemies
• अरयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)

• कृताः: made/turned (into)
• कृताः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural); (predicate: 'made/turned into')

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about money causing family conflict?

This verse states that even a tiny amount of money can instantly turn affectionate relatives—brothers, spouses, fathers, and friends—into enemies, showing how greed fractures relationships.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe relatives becoming enemies in Canto 11?

He is conveying the Avadhūta’s lesson of detachment: material wealth is unstable and can corrupt affection, so one should not base security or identity on possessions.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Keep finances transparent and principled, avoid greed-driven disputes, and prioritize devotion and character over possessions—so relationships are protected from material agitation.