Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

किं धनैर्धनदैर्वा किं कामैर्वा कामदैरुत । मृत्युना ग्रस्यमानस्य कर्मभिर्वोत जन्मदै: ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

kiṁ dhanair dhana-dair vā kiṁ kāmair vā kāma-dair uta mṛtyunā grasyamānasya karmabhir vota janma-daiḥ

Translation

对被死亡吞噬之人，财富或施财者、感官享乐或供乐者有何用？又何况那些只令人在物质世间再度受生的业行，有何意义？

Synonyms

• kim: what (use)
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक (what use?)

• dhanaiḥ: with wealth
• dhanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन (n. instr. pl.)

• dhana-daiḥ: with wealth-givers
• dhana-daiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhana (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: धनस्य दाः ‘wealth-givers’ (m. instr. pl.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-समुच्चय (disjunctive particle: or)

• kim: what (use)
• kim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रश्नार्थक

• kāmaiḥ: with desires/pleasures
• kāmaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन (m. instr. pl.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• kāma-daiḥ: with pleasure-givers
• kāma-daiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कामानां दाः ‘desire-givers’ (m. instr. pl.)

• uta: or else/and
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-निपात (and/or; moreover)

• mṛtyunā: by death
• mṛtyunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛtyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन (m. instr. sg.)

• grasyamānasya: of one being swallowed
• grasyamānasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gras (धातु)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन; शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त (present passive participle) ‘being devoured’

• karmabhiḥ: by actions
• karmabhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन (n. instr. pl.)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• uta: and/or
• uta: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uta (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-निपात (and/or)

• janma-daiḥ: with (those) giving birth (i.e., causing rebirth)
• janma-daiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: जन्मनः/जन्मानां दाः ‘birth-givers’ (m. instr. pl.)

Characters & Entities

• Uddhava
• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Avadhūta-brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about wealth and sense enjoyment in the face of death?

This verse says that wealth, pleasure, and even those who provide them are ultimately useless when death is approaching; only spiritual realization beyond karma and rebirth is truly beneficial.

Why does Krishna (through this teaching) criticize karma that leads to another birth?

Because karmic activity aimed at material results cannot stop death and typically binds the soul to repeated birth and death; the teaching urges turning from fruitive goals toward liberation and devotion.

How can I apply this shloka in modern life?

Use it to prioritize lasting spiritual practice over endless accumulation and entertainment—reduce dependency on external “providers” of happiness and invest time in bhakti, self-discipline, and remembrance of the Lord.