Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

परिभूत इमां गाथामगायत नराधमै: । पातयद्भ‍ि: स्व धर्मस्थो धृतिमास्थाय सात्त्विकीम् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

paribhūta imāṁ gāthām agāyata narādhamaiḥ pātayadbhiḥ sva dharma-stho dhṛtim āsthāya sāttvikīm

Translation

Obwohl er von niederträchtigen Menschen beschimpft wurde, die ihn zu Fall bringen wollten, blieb er standhaft in seinen geistlichen Pflichten. Seine Entschlossenheit in der Erscheinungsweise der Güte verankert, begann er das folgende Lied zu singen.

Synonyms

• परिभूतः: insulted/abused
• परिभूतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-भू (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of the speaker)

• इमाम्: this
• इमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (gāthām)

• गाथाम्: song/verse
• गाथाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अगायत: he sang
• अगायत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नराधमैः: by the lowest of men
• नराधमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नराधम (प्रातिपदिक: नर + अधम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्राय: “men who are lowest”)

• पातयद्भिः: by those who were causing to fall/bringing down
• पातयद्भिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (narādhamaiḥ)

• स्वः: one’s own
• स्वः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-प्राय)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग/विशेषण; here used as adjective “one’s own” (agreeing with dharma)

• धर्मस्थः: steadfast in dharma
• धर्मस्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक: धर्म + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: “standing in dharma”)

• धृतिम्: fortitude
• धृतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having taken up
• आस्थाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), “having resorted to/taken up”

• सात्त्विकीम्: sattvic, pure
• सात्त्विकीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सात्त्विकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (dhṛtim)

Purport

Resolution in the mode of goodness is described in Bhagavad-gītā (18.33) :

Characters & Entities

• Avadhūta (the brāhmaṇa)
• King Yadu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about tolerating insult and humiliation?

This verse teaches that even when dishonored by degraded people, a wise person remains fixed in sva-dharma and relies on sāttvika determination rather than reacting in anger or despair.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Avadhūta being attacked by low-minded people?

To highlight the Avadhūta’s inner steadiness: his spiritual strength is shown by remaining composed and dharmic even when others try to degrade him.

How can I apply ‘sāttvika dhṛti’ in modern life according to this shloka?

Stay anchored to your principles and devotional practice when criticized or provoked, and respond with restraint, clarity, and consistency instead of being pushed into impulsive reactions.