Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 51
The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult
दु:खस्य हेतुर्यदि देवतास्तु किमात्मनस्तत्र विकारयोस्तत् । यदङ्गमङ्गेन निहन्यते क्वचित् क्रुध्येत कस्मै पुरुष: स्वदेहे ॥ ५१ ॥
duḥkhasya hetur yadi devatās tu kim ātmanas tatra vikārayos tat yad aṅgam aṅgena nihanyate kvacit krudhyeta kasmai puruṣaḥ sva-dehe
หากกล่าวว่าเทวดาผู้ครองอินทรีย์เป็นเหตุแห่งทุกข์ แล้วทุกข์นั้นจะเกี่ยวกับอาตมันได้อย่างไร? การกระทำและการถูกกระทำเป็นเพียงปฏิสัมพันธ์ของอินทรีย์ที่แปรเปลี่ยนกับเทวดาผู้ครองอินทรีย์เท่านั้น เมื่ออวัยวะหนึ่งทำร้ายอีกอวัยวะหนึ่ง บุคคลในกายนั้นจะโกรธใครเล่า
The brāhmaṇa is elaborately explaining the condition of self-realization, in which one understands oneself to be totally distinct from the material body and mind and the demigods who control them. By cultivating bodily happiness we are forced to accept bodily pain. Foolish conditioned souls endeavor to eliminate distress and enjoy happiness, but material happiness and distress are two sides of the same coin. One cannot relish bodily happiness without identifying oneself as the body. But as soon as such identification occurs, one is harassed by the innumerable pains and sufferings also inevitably present within the same body. Bodily happiness and distress are administered by the demigods, who can never be brought under our control; thus one remains subject to the whims of providence on the material platform. If, however, one surrenders to the Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the reservoir of all pleasure, one can reach the spiritual platform, where transcendental bliss enlivens the liberated souls without any interrupting anxiety or unhappiness.
FAQs
This verse argues that suffering is not truly caused by the demigods; it is connected with one’s own conditioned transformations and bodily identification, so blaming external controllers is misguided.
It illustrates misdirected anger: when harm occurs within one’s own body, there is no ‘other’ to blame—similarly, much suffering arises from one’s own conditioned state rather than an external enemy.
Before blaming others, examine how your own reactions, habits, and misidentification fuel distress; redirect energy toward self-discipline, clarity, and devotion rather than resentment.