Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 11
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
क्वचिदुलूकझिल्लीस्वनवदतिपरुषरभसाटोपं प्रत्यक्षं परोक्षं वा रिपुराजकुलनिर्भर्त्सितेनातिव्यथितकर्णमूलहृदय: ॥ ११ ॥
kvacid ulūka-jhillī-svanavad ati-paruṣa-rabhasāṭopaṁ pratyakṣaṁ parokṣaṁ vā ripu-rāja-kula-nirbhartsitenāti-vyathita-karṇa-mūla-hṛdayaḥ.
Manchmal wird die bedingte Seele durch die Zurechtweisungen ihrer Feinde und der Diener der Obrigkeit sehr gequält, die sie direkt oder indirekt mit harten Worten belegen. Dann werden Herz und Ohrwurzel tief betrübt. Solche Züchtigung gleicht den Lauten von Eulen und Grillen.
There are different types of enemies within this material world. The government chastises one due to not paying income taxes. Such criticism, direct or indirect, saddens one, and sometimes the conditioned soul tries to counteract that chastisement. Unfortunately, he cannot do anything.
FAQs
This verse explains that a conditioned soul in material life is tormented by harsh speech—open insults or hidden slander—especially from enemies and powerful people, which pierces the heart and increases inner distress.
He uses them as metaphors for cruel, noisy, and disturbing talk—words that agitate the mind and make one feel attacked, illustrating the misery found in worldly association.
By practicing tolerance, avoiding toxic association, and grounding one’s identity in service to Krishna rather than public approval—so praise and blame do not shake the heart.