Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 55
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
कालस्तुहेतु: सुखदु:खयोश्चेत् किमात्मनस्तत्रतदात्मकोऽसौ । नाग्नेर्हि तापो न हिमस्य तत् स्यात् क्रुध्येत कस्मै न परस्य द्वन्द्वम् ॥ ५५ ॥
kālas tu hetuḥ sukha-duḥkhayoś cet kim ātmanas tatra tad-ātmako ’sau nāgner hi tāpo na himasya tat syāt krudhyeta kasmai na parasya dvandvam
Si l’on accepte que le temps (kāla) cause bonheur et souffrance, cette expérience ne s’applique pas à l’ātman. Le temps est une manifestation de la puissance du Seigneur, et les êtres vivants sont des expansions de cette même puissance. Le feu ne brûle pas sa propre flamme, ni le froid ne blesse ses propres flocons. L’âme transcende la dualité; contre qui donc se fâcher ?
The material body is dull matter and does not experience happiness, distress or anything else. Because the spirit soul is completely transcendental, he should fix his consciousness on the transcendental Lord, who is beyond material happiness and distress. It is only when transcendental consciousness falsely identifies with dull matter that the living entity imagines he is enjoying and suffering in the material world. This illusory identification of consciousness with matter is called false ego and is the cause of material existence.
FAQs
This verse argues that blaming time alone is incomplete; duality is not truly caused by an external agent, and the wise person stops directing anger outward, seeing a deeper principle beyond mere time.
King Yadu inquired about the Avadhuta’s unusual peace and freedom; the Avadhuta responds by dismantling common blame—such as time or other people—and teaches transcendence of duality through higher understanding.
When disturbed, pause before blaming people or circumstances; reflect on how reactions arise from conditioned perception, and practice steadiness through remembrance of the Self and devotion, reducing anger and reactivity.