Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 12

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

Devanagari script

स एवं द्रविणे नष्टे धर्मकामविवर्जित: । उपेक्षितश्च स्वजनैश्चिन्तामाप दुरत्ययाम् ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

sa evaṁ draviṇe naṣṭe dharma-kāma-vivarjitaḥ upekṣitaś ca sva-janaiś cintām āpa duratyayām

Translation

最终，当他的财产尽失之时，那从未行持法（dharma）亦未得正当欲乐的人，被家人冷落；于是他陷入难以承受的忧虑。

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; adverb ‘thus/in this way’

• द्रविणे: when wealth
• द्रविणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रविण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative absolute with naṣṭe

• नष्टे: having been lost
• नष्टे: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नश् (धातु) → नष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; locative absolute ‘having been lost’

• धर्म-काम-विवर्जितः: deprived of virtue and pleasure
• धर्म-काम-विवर्जितः: Visheshana (विशेषण of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म + काम + विवर्जित (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; ‘devoid of dharma and kāma’; धर्म-काम (द्वन्द्व) + विवर्जित (क्त)

• उपेक्षितः: neglected/ignored
• उपेक्षितः: Visheshana (विशेषण of सः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उप + ईक्ष् (धातु) → उपेक्षित (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction

• स्व-जनैः: by his own people/kinsmen
• स्व-जनैः: Karana (करण/instrument-agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य जनाः)

• चिन्ताम्: anxiety/worry
• चिन्ताम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिन्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आप: attained/experienced
• आप: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दुरत्ययाम्: hard to overcome
• दुरत्ययाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरत्यया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; adjective qualifying चिन्ताम्

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about anxiety caused by loss of wealth?

This verse explains that when one’s wealth is destroyed and one loses connection to dharma, even relatives may neglect him, leading to overwhelming anxiety—highlighting the need to ground life in spiritual values rather than possessions.

Why is wealth-loss linked with losing dharma and kāma in Bhagavatam 11.23?

The verse depicts how material dependence can erode both righteous living (dharma) and balanced enjoyment (kāma); when wealth disappears, the person’s former supports collapse, revealing inner emptiness and fear.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Do not build identity and security solely on money or social approval; cultivate dharma, devotion, and inner discipline so that reversals like financial loss or social neglect do not produce crippling anxiety.