Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

व्यर्थयार्थेहया वित्तं प्रमत्तस्य वयो बलम् । कुशला येन सिध्यन्ति जरठ: किं नु साधये ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

vyarthayārthehayā vittaṁ pramattasya vayo balam kuśalā yena sidhyanti jaraṭhaḥ kiṁ nu sādhaye

Translation

Besonnene Menschen nutzen Geld, Jugend und Kraft, um Vollkommenheit zu erlangen; doch ich habe sie in törichter Hast in nutzlosen Mühen um mehr Reichtum vergeudet. Nun bin ich alt — was kann ich noch erreichen?

Synonyms

• vyarthayā: by futile (means)
• vyarthayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyartha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (fem. instr. sg.)

• artha: wealth/goal
• artha: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘अर्थम्’ (m. acc. sg.)

• īhayā: by striving/endeavor
• īhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन (f. instr. sg.)

• vittam: wealth
• vittam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vitta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन (n. acc. sg.)

• pramattasya: of the heedless
• pramattasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pramatta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (m. gen. sg.)

• vayaḥ: youth/age
• vayaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (n. nom./acc. sg.)

• balam: strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (n. nom./acc. sg.)

• kuśalāḥ: the wise/skillful (persons)
• kuśalāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), बहुवचन (m. nom. pl.)

• yena: by which
• yena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन (pron. instr. sg.)

• sidhyanti: succeed/are accomplished
• sidhyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sidh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd pl.)

• jaraṭhaḥ: an old man
• jaraṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jaraṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन (m. nom. sg.)

• kim: what
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative)

• nu: indeed/then (particle)
• nu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (particle)

• sādhaye: should I accomplish/do
• sādhaye: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sādh (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), आत्मनेपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन (1st sg.)

Characters & Entities

• Dattatreya
• Yadu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about wasting life in material pursuits?

This verse warns that futile chasing of worldly gain wastes one’s wealth, youth, and strength, and urges seeking the endeavor that brings real auspiciousness—spiritual welfare.

Why did Dattatreya (the Avadhuta) say this to King Yadu?

While instructing Yadu, the Avadhuta highlights the urgency of spiritual realization, showing how ordinary life is squandered by careless attachment and how one should instead pursue lasting good.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Audit where your time and energy go—reduce compulsive acquisition, and redirect resources toward sādhana, service, and remembrance of Bhagavān so that life’s prime years are not lost.