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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 21

The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult

अर्थेनाल्पीयसा ह्येते संरब्धा दीप्तमन्यव: । त्यजन्त्याशु स्पृधो घ्नन्ति सहसोत्सृज्य सौहृदम् ॥ २१ ॥

arthenālpīyasā hy ete saṁrabdhā dīpta-manyavaḥ tyajanty āśu spṛdho ghnanti sahasotsṛjya sauhṛdam

അൽപമായ ധനത്തിനുവേണ്ടിയും ഇവർ അത്യന്തം ഉഗ്രരായി, കോപം ജ്വലിക്കുന്നു. മത്സരക്കാരായി അവർ ഉടൻ സൗഹൃദഭാവം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് ക്ഷണത്തിൽ തള്ളിക്കളയും—കൊലപാതകത്തിലേക്കും പോകും.

अर्थेनby wealth/for money
अर्थेन:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc.), तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sing.)
अल्पीयसाby a very small (amount)
अल्पीयसा:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअल्पीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; comparative)
Formविशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग (masc./neut. instr. form used with अर्थेन), तृतीया (Instr. 3), एकवचन (sing.); अल्पतर (smaller/less)
हिindeed
हि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; निपात (particle: emphasis/indeed)
एतेthese (people)
एते:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formसर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)
संरब्धाःenraged
संरब्धाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootसं + रभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) used adjectivally; पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)
दीप्तinflamed
दीप्त:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootदीप् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
Formभूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) used adjectivally; पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural); (qualifies मन्यवः)
मन्यवःanger
मन्यवः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootमन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nom. 1), बहुवचन (plural)
त्यजन्तिthey abandon
त्यजन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootत्यज् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)
आशुquickly
आशु:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootआशु (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)
स्पृधःrivalries/jealousies
स्पृधः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootस्पृध् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (fem.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), बहुवचन (plural)
घ्नन्तिthey strike/kill
घ्नन्ति:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootहन् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन (plural)
सहसाsuddenly
सहसा:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसहसा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: suddenly)
उत्सृज्यhaving cast off
उत्सृज्य:
Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउत् + सृज् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
Formअव्ययकृदन्त; क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त (gerund), 'having abandoned'
सौहृदम्friendship
सौहृदम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootसौहृद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sing.)
U
Uddhava
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

This verse says that even a small amount of material gain can inflame anger and rivalry, making people abandon friendship and even harm one another.

In the Uddhava-gītā, Kṛṣṇa teaches renunciation and clear discrimination by exposing how attachment to trivial material profit destroys goodwill and leads to conflict.

Treat money as a tool, not a master—avoid competitive envy, keep relationships above profit, and practice contentment to prevent anger and needless conflict.