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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

थोड्याशा पैशासाठीही हे नातेवाईक‑मित्र संतप्त होतात, त्यांचा राग भडकतो. प्रतिस्पर्धी बनून ते लवकरच सारा सौहार्द टाकून देतात आणि क्षणात परकं करतात—इथवर की हत्या करतात.

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.