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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

आशा हि परमं दु:खं नैराश्यं परमं सुखम् । यथा सञ्छिद्य कान्ताशां सुखं सुष्वाप पिङ्गला ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

āśā hi paramaṁ duḥkhaṁ nairāśyaṁ paramaṁ sukham yathā sañchidya kāntāśāṁ sukhaṁ suṣvāpa piṅgalā

Translation

Material desire is the greatest misery, and freedom from desire (detachment) is the greatest happiness. Thus Piṅgalā cut off her longing for so‑called lovers and, in joy, fell asleep.

Synonyms
आशाhope, expectation
आशा:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootआशा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
हिindeed, surely
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle/emphasis)
परमम्supreme, greatest
परमम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)
दुःखम्sorrow, suffering
दुःखम्:
Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootदुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
नैराश्यम्absence of hope, despair (hopelessness)
नैराश्यम्:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootनैराश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
परमम्supreme, greatest
परमम्:
Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc. 1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)
सुखम्happiness, ease
सुखम्:
Pradhana (प्रधान/Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootसुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
यथाjust as, in the way that
यथा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (comparative/manner adverb)
सञ्छिद्यhaving cut off
सञ्छिद्य:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial to main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-छिद् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable); धातु: छिद् (to cut) उपसर्ग: सम्; अर्थ: ‘having cut off/completely cut’
कान्त-आशाम्desire/hope for a beloved (woman)
कान्त-आशाम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootकान्ता (प्रातिपदिक) + आशा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘कान्तायाः आशा’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
सुखम्happily, with ease
सुखम्:
Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeNoun
Rootसुख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially)
सुष्वापslept
सुष्वाप:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootस्वप् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); धातु: स्वप् (to sleep)
पिङ्गलाPiṅgalā (name of the courtesan)
पिङ्गला:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
Purport

Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Eleventh Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Story of Piṅgalā.”

Characters & Entities
P
Pingalā

FAQs

This verse teaches that expectation rooted in worldly desire becomes the greatest source of sorrow, while giving up such expectation brings the highest peace.

Because she renounces her craving for a lover (sense-based hope) and becomes inwardly detached; that inner renunciation allows her to rest in genuine calm.

Reduce dependence on external validation and outcomes, perform duties without obsessive expectation, and redirect longing toward devotion and inner discipline—then the mind naturally becomes lighter and more peaceful.

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