Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 11
The Forest of Material Existence (Saṁsāra-vana) and the Delivering Path of Bharata’s Teachings
क्वचिदुलूकझिल्लीस्वनवदतिपरुषरभसाटोपं प्रत्यक्षं परोक्षं वा रिपुराजकुलनिर्भर्त्सितेनातिव्यथितकर्णमूलहृदय: ॥ ११ ॥
kvacid ulūka-jhillī-svanavad ati-paruṣa-rabhasāṭopaṁ pratyakṣaṁ parokṣaṁ vā ripu-rāja-kula-nirbhartsitenāti-vyathita-karṇa-mūla-hṛdayaḥ.
Đôi khi linh hồn bị ràng buộc đau khổ vì lời quở trách của kẻ thù và người của chính quyền, những kẻ dùng lời lẽ thô bạo trực tiếp hay gián tiếp. Khi ấy gốc tai và trái tim nó buồn đau sâu sắc. Sự quở trách ấy ví như tiếng cú và tiếng dế rền rĩ chói tai.
There are different types of enemies within this material world. The government chastises one due to not paying income taxes. Such criticism, direct or indirect, saddens one, and sometimes the conditioned soul tries to counteract that chastisement. Unfortunately, he cannot do anything.
FAQs
This verse explains that a conditioned soul in material life is tormented by harsh speech—open insults or hidden slander—especially from enemies and powerful people, which pierces the heart and increases inner distress.
He uses them as metaphors for cruel, noisy, and disturbing talk—words that agitate the mind and make one feel attacked, illustrating the misery found in worldly association.
By practicing tolerance, avoiding toxic association, and grounding one’s identity in service to Krishna rather than public approval—so praise and blame do not shake the heart.