FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.18.31

नोद्विजेत जनाद् धीरो जनं चोद्वेजयेन्न तु । अतिवादांस्तितिक्षेत नावमन्येत कञ्चन । देहमुद्दिश्य पशुवद् वैरं कुर्यान्न केनचित् ॥ ३१ ॥
nodvijeta janād dhīro
[nodvijeta janaad dheero]
janaṁ codvejayen na tu
[janam chodvejayen na tu]
ati-vādāṁs titikṣeta
[ati-vaadaams titiksheta]
nāvamanyeta kañcana
[naavamanyeta kanchana]
deham uddiśya paśu-vad
[deham uddishya pashu-vad]
vairaṁ kuryān na kenacit
[vairam kuryaan na kenachit]
na — never udvijeta — should be disturbed or frightened janāt — because of other people dhīraḥ — a saintly person janam — other people ca — also udvejayet — should frighten or disturb na — never tu — indeed ati-vādān — insulting or harsh words titikṣeta — he should tolerate na — never avamanyeta — should belittle kañcana — anyone deham — the body uddiśya — for the sake of paśu-vat — like an animal vairam — hostility kuryāt — he should create na — never kenacit — with anyone.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
nodvijeta janād dhīro
na
never
janaṁ codvejayen na tu
ati-vādāṁs titikṣeta
nāvamanyeta kañcana
deham uddiśya paśu-vad
udvijeta
should be disturbed or frightened
janāt
because of other people
dhīraḥ
a saintly person
janam
other people
ca
also
udvejayet
should frighten or disturb
vairaṁ kuryān na kenacit
na
never
tu
indeed
ati-vādān
insulting or harsh words
titikṣeta
he should tolerate
na
never
avamanyeta
should belittle
kañcana
anyone
deham
the body
uddiśya
for the sake of
paśu-vat
like an animal
vairam
hostility
kuryāt
he should create
na
never
kenacit
with anyone.
A saintly person should never let others frighten or disturb him and, similarly, should never frighten or disturb other people. He should tolerate the insults of others and should never himself belittle anyone. He should never create hostility with anyone for the sake of the material body, for he would thus be no better than an animal.

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu has stated:

tṛṇād api su-nīcena taror iva sahiṣṇunā amāninā māna-dena kīrtanīyaḥ sadā hariḥ

“One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.”

A Vaiṣṇava should never disturb any other living entity with his body, mind or words. He should always be tolerant and never belittle others. Although a Vaiṣṇava may act powerfully against the demons for Lord Kṛṣṇa’s sake — as did Arjuna, Hanumān and many other great devotees — a Vaiṣṇava becomes very meek and humble in regard to his own reputation.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
A saintly person should never let others disturb him and, similarly, should never disturb other people. He should tolerate the insults of others and should never insult anyone. He should never create hostility with anyone for the sake of the material body, for he would thus be no better than an animal. Ativādān means insults.
Don't be intimidated, don't intimidate others; tolerate insults, never belittle; never create hostility over the body. Equanimity guards both directions.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I create hostility 'for the body' — its needs, image, comfort?
  • What would dropping that fight look like?
📝 My note

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