Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 34
Indra’s Envy at Pṛthu’s Aśvamedha and Brahmā’s Intervention
False Renunciation Exposed
मास्मिन्महाराज कृथा: स्म चिन्तांनिशामयास्मद्वच आदृतात्मा । यद्ध्यायतो दैवहतं नु कर्तुंमनोऽतिरुष्टं विशते तमोऽन्धम् ॥ ३४ ॥
māsmin mahārāja kṛthāḥ sma cintāṁ niśāmayāsmad-vaca ādṛtātmā yad dhyāyato daiva-hataṁ nu kartuṁ mano ’tiruṣṭaṁ viśate tamo ’ndham
亲爱的国王，不要因天意的阻碍使你的祭祀未能圆满而烦乱忧惧。请恭敬听我之言：凡由天命安排而发生之事，不必过度悲叹；越是执意纠正这些逆转，心识越会坠入最幽暗的物质思维之境。
Sometimes the saintly or very religious person also has to meet with reversals in life. Such incidents should be taken as providential. Although there may be sufficient cause for being unhappy, one should avoid counteracting such reversals, for the more we become implicated in rectifying such reversals, the more we enter into the darkest regions of material anxiety. Lord Kṛṣṇa has also advised us in this connection: we should tolerate things instead of becoming agitated.
FAQs
This verse warns that when the mind becomes intensely angry while brooding over misfortune, it falls into “blind darkness,” meaning delusion and loss of discrimination.
Because Prithu was disturbed by repeated obstacles to his sacrifice; Brahma advised him to stop worrying and not let anger over providential setbacks push him into darkness.
When setbacks feel unfair, avoid obsessive rumination and anger; pause, listen to wise counsel, and respond calmly so the mind stays clear and dharmic.