Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 40

Avadhūta’s Teachers: Python, Ocean, Moth, Bee, Elephant, Deer, Fish—and Piṅgalā’s Song of Detachment

Devanagari script

सन्तुष्टा श्रद्दधत्येतद्यथालाभेन जीवती । विहराम्यमुनैवाहमात्मना रमणेन वै ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

santuṣṭā śraddadhaty etad yathā-lābhena jīvatī viharāmy amunaivāham ātmanā ramaṇena vai

Translation

I am now fully satisfied, with firm faith in the Lord’s mercy. Therefore I shall sustain myself by whatever comes of its own accord. I will delight in life with the Lord alone, for He is the true source of love and happiness.

Synonyms

• santuṣṭā: content/satisfied
• santuṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam + tuṣ (धातु) → santuṣṭa (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• śraddadhatī: having faith
• śraddadhatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrad + dhā (धातु) → śraddadhat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present Active Participle/शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• etat: this
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• yathā-lābhena: by whatever comes of itself/as obtained
• yathā-lābhena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + lābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; समासान्त-रूपेण तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• jīvatī: living
• jīvatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīv (धातु) → jīvat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present Active Participle/शतृ), प्रथमा, एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• viharāmi: I roam/amuse myself
• viharāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + hṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• amunā: with that
• amunā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle), अव्यय

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• ātmanā: by/with the self
• ātmanā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• ramaṇena: as (my) delight/companion
• ramaṇena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle), अव्यय

Characters & Entities

• Pingalā

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about living with contentment (yathā-lābha)?

This verse teaches that one should live peacefully with whatever comes naturally, remaining satisfied and faithful in spiritual truth rather than chasing external enjoyment.

Why does Pingalā say she now rejoices with the Self (ātmanā ramaṇena)?

After becoming disillusioned with depending on worldly patrons for happiness, Pingalā turns inward and recognizes the Self (and the Lord within) as the real source of joy and companionship.

How can I apply Pingalā’s teaching in modern life?

Reduce anxious chasing for validation or pleasure, accept honest necessities as they come, and cultivate inner life through devotion, self-reflection, and steady spiritual practice.