Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 22
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
लब्ध्वा जन्मामरप्रार्थ्यं मानुष्यं तद्द्विजाग्र्यताम् । तदनादृत्य ये स्वार्थं घ्नन्ति यान्त्यशुभां गतिम् ॥ २२ ॥
labdhvā janmāmara-prārthyaṁ mānuṣyaṁ tad dvijāgryatām tad anādṛtya ye svārthaṁ ghnanti yānty aśubhāṁ gatim
દેવતાઓ પણ જે માનવજન્મ માટે પ્રાર્થના કરે છે તે જન્મ મેળવી, તેમાં પણ શ્રેષ્ઠ બ્રાહ્મણપદ પ્રાપ્ત કરીને જે આ અવસરનું માન રાખતા નથી—તેઓ પોતાનો જ સ્વાર્થ નાશ કરે છે અને નિશ્ચિત અશુભ ગતિને પામે છે.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura comments as follows. “Human birth is better than that of the demigods, ghosts, spirits, animals, trees, lifeless stones, and so forth, because the demigods simply enjoy celestial pleasures, and in other forms of life there is excessive suffering. It is only in human life that one deeply considers one’s ultimate benefit in life. Human birth is therefore more desirable than even that of the demigods.” Within human life the position of a high-class brāhmaṇa is certainly most desirable. If a brāhmaṇa, however, gives up the devotional service of the Lord and works hard like a śūdra simply for the prestige of his community, he is certainly on the platform of material sense gratification. The special qualification of the brāhmaṇas is the spiritual knowledge by which they recognize every living entity to be an eternal servant of the Lord. A brāhmaṇa, free from false ego, thus feels himself lower than a blade of grass and tolerantly offers respect to all living entities. All human beings, and especially the brāhmaṇas, should avoid becoming killers of their own self-interest by neglecting Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the loving service of the Lord. Such neglect paves the way for future suffering.
FAQs
This verse says human life is so rare that even the devas pray for it, because it uniquely enables one to pursue true self-interest—spiritual realization and liberation.
In the Uddhava Gita context, Kṛṣṇa teaches that human intelligence is meant for realizing the self and the Supreme; neglecting this purpose is described as harming one’s own svārtha and leading to an inauspicious end.
Treat your time, abilities, and education as a sacred opportunity: prioritize sādhana (hearing, chanting, prayer), ethical living, and purposeful service over habits that erode character and spiritual focus.