Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 6
Karma-vāda Critiqued, Varṇāśrama Reframed, and the Soul’s Distinction from the Body
अमान्यमत्सरो दक्षो निर्ममोदृढसौहृद: । असत्वरोऽर्थजिज्ञासुरनसूयुरमोघवाक् ॥ ६ ॥
amāny amatsaro dakṣo nirmamo dṛḍha-sauhṛdaḥ asatvaro ’rtha-jijñāsur anasūyur amogha-vāk
Le serviteur ou disciple du maître spirituel doit être sans faux prestige, sans jalousie, actif et jamais paresseux; il doit renoncer à tout sentiment de propriété sur les objets des sens, y compris épouse, enfants, foyer et société. Qu’il soit doté d’une amitié aimante et ferme envers le guru, sans déviation. Qu’il aspire toujours à progresser dans la compréhension spirituelle, n’envie personne et évite les paroles vaines.
No one can claim to be the permanent proprietor of his so-called wife, family, home, society, and so on. Such material relationships appear and disappear like bubbles on the surface of the ocean. No one can claim to be the creator of the material elements that produced one’s home, society and family. If it were a fact that parents were the ultimate creators of the bodies of their children, children would never die before their parents; the parents would simply create new bodies for the children. Similarly, parents would also not die, because they would create new bodies for themselves to replace the old ones. Actually, God creates everyone’s bodies as well as the material elements with which we build our material societies. Therefore, before death drags these things out of our grasp, we should voluntarily engage them in the loving service of the spiritual master, who is the bona fide representative of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Then such material objects, instead of causing lamentation, will be the cause of happiness.
FAQs
This verse lists key traits: humility (not seeking honor), freedom from envy, competence, non-possessiveness, steady friendship, patience, inquiry into life’s true purpose, nonfaultfinding nature, and truthful, effective speech.
Kṛṣṇa is defining the character of an elevated devotee so Uddhava can recognize genuine saintly conduct and internalize these virtues as part of devotional life.
Stop chasing validation, appreciate others’ success without comparison, serve quietly, and speak in ways that help rather than diminish—making humility and non-envy a daily discipline.