Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

तस्यैवं ध्यायतो दीर्घं नष्टरायस्तपस्विन: । खिद्यतो बाष्पकण्ठस्य निर्वेद: सुमहानभूत् ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

tasyaivaṁ dhyāyato dīrghaṁ naṣṭa-rāyas tapasvinaḥ khidyato bāṣpa-kaṇṭhasya nirvedaḥ su-mahān abhūt

Translation

Mất sạch của cải, vị khổ hạnh ấy đau đớn và than khóc; cổ họng nghẹn vì nước mắt, ông trầm tư rất lâu về số phận mình. Rồi một niềm ly tham mạnh mẽ tràn ngập trong ông.

Synonyms

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb ‘thus’

• ध्यायतः: while he was thinking
• ध्यायतः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध; genitive absolute sense)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यायत् (कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; ‘while meditating/thinking’

• दीर्घम्: for long
• दीर्घम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन; adverb ‘for a long time’

• नष्ट-रायः: whose wealth was lost
• नष्ट-रायः: Visheshana (विशेषण of तपस्विनः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त) + राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘whose wealth is lost’

• तपस्विनः: of the ascetic
• तपस्विनः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• खिद्यतः: as he was grieving
• खिद्यतः: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate in subordinate sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: खिद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘is distressed’ (genitive absolute sense with tasya)

• बाष्प-कण्ठस्य: of him whose throat was choked with tears
• बाष्प-कण्ठस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण of तपस्विनः/तस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाष्प + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘with throat choked with tears’ (बाष्पेण कण्ठः)

• निर्वेदः: dispassion/indifference
• निर्वेदः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सु-महान्: very great
• सु-महान्: Visheshana (विशेषण of निर्वेदः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + महान् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘very great’

• अभूत्: arose/became
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Purport

The brāhmaṇa had previously been trained in pious life, but his past goodness was covered by his offensive behavior. Finally, his previous purity was reawakened within him.

Characters & Entities

• The brāhmaṇa (householder) of Pratiṣṭhāna / avadhūta narrative figure

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about detachment (nirveda) arising from loss and grief?

This verse states that when the brāhmaṇa lost his wealth and suffered deeply—tears choking his throat—prolonged reflection led to a powerful detachment (nirveda) awakening within him.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the brāhmaṇa’s tears and distress in this verse?

To show the turning point of the narrative: intense worldly distress, when met with thoughtful contemplation, can mature into genuine renunciation rather than further bondage.

Practical application of detachment in modern life according to this shloka?

When setbacks come, pause and reflect instead of reacting impulsively; use the pain to reassess what is truly lasting, and cultivate inner detachment that supports steady devotion and clarity.