Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 52
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
आत्मा यदि स्यात् सुखदु:खहेतु: किमन्यतस्तत्र निजस्वभाव: । न ह्यात्मनोऽन्यद् यदि तन्मृषा स्यात् क्रुध्येत कस्मान्न सुखं न दु:खम् ॥ ५२ ॥
ātmā yadi syāt sukha-duḥkha-hetuḥ kim anyatas tatra nija-svabhāvaḥ na hy ātmano ’nyad yadi tan mṛṣā syāt krudhyeta kasmān na sukhaṁ na duḥkham
Si l’âme elle-même était la cause du bonheur et de la peine, on ne pourrait blâmer autrui, car joie et douleur seraient la nature de l’ātman. Selon cette thèse, rien n’existe en dehors de l’âme, et percevoir autre chose serait illusion. Dès lors, puisque bonheur et peine n’existent pas réellement, pourquoi se fâcher contre soi ou contre autrui?
Because a dead body does not feel pleasure or pain, our happiness and distress are due to our own consciousness, which is the nature of the soul. It is not, however, the original function of the soul to enjoy material happiness and suffer material distress. These are produced by ignorant material affection and enmity based on false ego. Our involvement in sense gratification drags our consciousness into the material body, where it is shocked by the inevitable bodily pains and problems.
FAQs
This verse explains that blaming either the self alone or something other than the self as the ultimate cause breaks down philosophically; real relief comes from understanding the deeper truth of the self and giving up misplaced anger and blame.
King Yadu approached the Avadhūta seeking wisdom, and the Avadhūta taught renunciation and clear perception—showing that anger arises from misidentifying the true cause of suffering.
Before reacting, examine the tendency to blame yourself or others; practice steadiness by remembering that emotions arise from mistaken identification, and respond from clarity, prayer, and self-discipline rather than anger.