Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 56
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
न केनचित् क्वापि कथञ्चनास्य द्वन्द्वोपराग: परत: परस्य । यथाहम: संसृतिरूपिण: स्या- देवं प्रबुद्धो न बिभेति भूतै: ॥ ५६ ॥
na kenacit kvāpi kathañcanāsya dvandvoparāgaḥ parataḥ parasya yathāhamaḥ saṁsṛti-rūpiṇaḥ syād evaṁ prabuddho na bibheti bhūtaiḥ
L’âme transcendante, au-delà de tout, ne peut être entachée par la dualité, nulle part, d’aucune manière ni par quiconque. C’est le faux ego qui prend la forme de l’existence matérielle et goûte ainsi bonheur et souffrance. Celui qui s’éveille à cette vérité ne craint plus rien de la création matérielle.
The brāhmaṇa has refuted six specific explanations of the happiness and distress of the living entity, and now he refutes any other explanation that might be given. On the basis of false ego, the bodily covering factually overwhelms the spirit soul, and thus one falsely enjoys and suffers that which has no real relationship with oneself. One who can understand this sublime teaching of the brāhmaṇa, spoken by the Lord to Uddhava, will never again suffer the terrible anxiety of fear within the material world.
FAQs
This verse teaches that fear arises from the false ‘I’-sense (ahaṅkāra) that produces saṁsāra; when one awakens to the Supreme reality beyond duality, fear of beings disappears.
In the Uddhava Gītā, Kṛṣṇa instructs Uddhava in liberation before His departure from the world, emphasizing that transcendence of ego and duality leads to fearlessness and freedom.
Notice how fear intensifies when identity is tied to ego-based roles; practice remembrance of the Self and devotion to the Supreme, and respond from steadiness rather than dualistic anxiety.