Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 54
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
कर्मास्तुहेतु: सुखदु:खयोश्चेत् किमात्मनस्तद्धिजडाजडत्वे । देहस्त्वचित् पुरुषोऽयं सुपर्ण: क्रुध्येत कस्मै न हि कर्ममूलम् ॥ ५४ ॥
karmāstu hetuḥ sukha-duḥkhayoś cet kim ātmanas tad dhi jaḍājaḍatve dehas tv acit puruṣo ’yaṁ suparṇaḥ krudhyeta kasmai na hi karma mūlam
ಸুখದುಃಖಗಳಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣ ಕರ್ಮವೆಂದು ಒಪ್ಪಿದರೂ ಅದು ಆತ್ಮನಿಗೆ ಸೇರದು. ಚೇತನ ಕರ್ತೃ ಮತ್ತು ಜಡ ದೇಹದ ಸಂಯೋಗದಿಂದ ಕರ್ಮಭಾವನೆ ಹುಟ್ಟುತ್ತದೆ. ದೇಹ ಅಚೇತನ, ಆತ್ಮ ಪರ; ಕರ್ಮದ ಮೂಲ ದೇಹದಲ್ಲೂ ಇಲ್ಲ, ಆತ್ಮದಲ್ಲೂ ಇಲ್ಲ—ಹೀಗಿರೆ ಕೋಪ ಯಾರ ಮೇಲೆ?
The material body is composed of earth, water, fire and air, just like bricks, stones and other objects. Our consciousness, falsely absorbed in the body, experiences happiness and distress, and fruitive work ( karma ) is performed when we falsely consider ourselves to be the enjoyers of the material world. False ego is thus the illusory combination within our minds of the self and the body, which are actually two separate objects. Since karma, or material work, is based on illusory consciousness, these activities are also illusory and have no factual basis in either the body or the soul. When a conditioned soul falsely considers himself to be the body, and consequently the enjoyer of the material world, he tries to find pleasure in illicit connection with women. Such sinful activity is based on his false concept of being the body and thus the enjoyer of women and of the world. Since he is not the body, his activity of enjoying a woman does not actually exist. There is merely the interaction of two machines, namely the two bodies, and the interaction of the illusory consciousness of the man and woman. The sensation of illicit sex occurs within the material body and is falsely assimilated by the false ego as its own experience. Thus the miserable or pleasurable reactions of karma ultimately act upon the false ego and not upon the body, which is composed of dull matter, nor upon the soul, which has nothing to do with matter. False ego is the illusory concoction of the mind; it is specifically this false ego that is suffering happiness and distress. The soul cannot become angry at others, since he is not personally enjoying or suffering. Rather, the false ego is doing this.
FAQs
This verse challenges the idea of blaming karma as a personal enemy: the soul is distinct from inert matter, and when one sees the self as separate from the body and reactions, anger and blame lose their target.
King Yadu inquired about the Avadhuta’s peace and fearlessness; the Avadhuta replies by teaching discrimination between body and self, showing that blaming others or karma for suffering is rooted in misidentification with the body.
When distress arises, pause before blaming people or fate; practice seeing reactions as temporary and the self as the conscious witness—this reduces anger, increases clarity, and supports steady devotional practice.