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

Devanagari script

य एतां भिक्षुणा गीतां ब्रह्मनिष्ठां समाहित: । धारयञ्छ्रावयञ्छृण्वन्द्वन्द्वैर्नैवाभिभूयते ॥ ६१ ॥

Transliteration

ya etāṁ bhikṣuṇā gītāṁ brahma-niṣṭhāṁ samāhitaḥ dhārayañ chrāvayañ chṛṇvan dvandvair naivābhibhūyate

Translation

Quem, com plena atenção, guarda, recita a outros ou escuta este cântico do sannyāsī, firme no Brahman, jamais será novamente vencido pelas dualidades de prazer e dor.

Synonyms

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक-सर्वनाम

• एताम्: this
• एताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (गीताम्)

• भिक्षुणा: by a mendicant
• भिक्षुणा: Karta (कर्ता/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे — 'by the mendicant'

• गीताम्: the song (teaching)
• गीताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गै (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'song/that which is sung'

• ब्रह्मनिष्ठाम्: fixed in Brahman
• ब्रह्मनिष्ठाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन्-निष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणि निष्ठा यस्याः) विशेषण (गीताम्)

• समाहितः: composed (concentrated)
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'collected, composed'

• धारयन्: holding (retaining)
• धारयन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'while holding/retaining'

• श्रावयन्: making others hear (reciting)
• श्रावयन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + णिच् (causative) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: णिजन्त (causative) + शतृ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'while causing to hear/reciting to others'

• शृण्वन्: listening
• शृण्वन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Participial action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'while listening'

• द्वन्द्वैः: by dualities (opposites)
• द्वन्द्वैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (or पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगः), तृतीया, बहुवचन; साधन/हेतुभावे — 'by/with pairs of opposites'

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• अभिभूयते: is overpowered
• अभिभूयते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः — 'is overpowered'

Purport

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.

Characters & Entities

• Yadu
• Avadhūta (Dattātreya)

FAQs

How does Srimad Bhagavatam say one can overcome material dualities (dvandva)?

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.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī recommend hearing and repeating the avadhūta’s song?

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.

What is a practical application of this verse in modern life?

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.