Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 61
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
य एतां भिक्षुणा गीतां ब्रह्मनिष्ठां समाहित: । धारयञ्छ्रावयञ्छृण्वन्द्वन्द्वैर्नैवाभिभूयते ॥ ६१ ॥
ya etāṁ bhikṣuṇā gītāṁ brahma-niṣṭhāṁ samāhitaḥ dhārayañ chrāvayañ chṛṇvan dvandvair naivābhibhūyate
Quiconque, l’esprit recueilli, retient, récite à autrui ou écoute ce chant du sannyāsī, établi dans le Brahman, ne sera plus jamais submergé par les dualités de joie et de peine.
The Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī took shelter of the devotional service of the Lord and thus could overcome the illusory potency of his worshipable object, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He himself meditated upon and heard this song, and also taught it to others. Having received the Lord’s mercy, he enlightened other conditioned souls with transcendental intelligence so that they could also follow in the footsteps of the devotees of the Lord. Religion actually means to become a pure devotee of the Supreme Lord in loving service. Those who are trying to enjoy the material world or merely renounce it to avoid personal inconvenience cannot actually understand love of Godhead, in which the only objective is the satisfaction of the Lord.
FAQs
By steadily remembering, hearing, and sharing the Brahman-realized teaching of the avadhūta; such absorption prevents one from being overpowered by happiness–distress and other dualities.
Because the avadhūta’s instruction is brahma-niṣṭhā—rooted in realized spiritual truth—so internalizing it through remembrance, recitation, and hearing stabilizes the mind and frees one from being shaken by opposites.
Regularly study and listen to Bhagavatam teachings, reflect on them during stress, and discuss them with others—this trains the mind to stay balanced amid praise/blame, gain/loss, and comfort/discomfort.