FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.14.11

क्‍वचिदुलूकझिल्लीस्वनवदतिपरुषरभसाटोपं प्रत्यक्षं परोक्षं वा रिपुराजकुलनिर्भर्त्सितेनातिव्यथितकर्णमूलहृदय: ॥ ११ ॥
kvacid ulūka-jhillī-svanavad ati-paruṣa-rabhasāṭopaṁ pratyakṣaṁ parokṣaṁ vā ripu-rāja-kula-nirbhartsitenāti-vyathita-karṇa-mūla-hṛdayaḥ.
[kvachid ulooka-jhillee-svanavad ati-parusha-rabhasaatopam pratyaksham paroksham vaa ripu-raaja-kula-nirbhartsitenaati-vyathita-karna-moola-hridayah.]
Word-for-word
kvacit — sometimes ulūka — of the owl jhillī — and the cricket svana-vat — exactly like intolerable sounds ati-paruṣa — extremely piercing rabhasa — by perseverance āṭopam — agitation pratyakṣam — directly parokṣam — indirectly vā — or ripu — of enemies rāja-kula — and of government officers nirbhartsitena — by chastisement ati-vyathita — very aggrieved karṇa-mūla-hṛdayaḥ — whose ear and heart.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
kvacid ulūka-jhillī-svanavad ati-paruṣa-rabhasāṭopaṁ pratyakṣaṁ parokṣaṁ vā ripu-rāja-kula-nirbhartsitenāti-vyathita-karṇa-mūla-hṛdayaḥ.
kvacit
sometimes
ulūka
of the owl
jhillī
and the cricket
svana-vat
exactly like intolerable sounds
ati-paruṣa
extremely piercing
rabhasa
by perseverance
āṭopam
agitation
pratyakṣam
directly
parokṣam
indirectly
vā
or
ripu
of enemies
rāja-kula
and of government officers
nirbhartsitena
by chastisement
ati-vyathita
very aggrieved
karṇa-mūla-hṛdayaḥ
whose ear and heart.
Sometimes the conditioned soul is very aggrieved by the chastisement of his enemies and government servants, who use harsh words against him directly or indirectly. At that time his heart and ears become very saddened. Such chastisement may be compared to the sounds of owls and crickets.
Purport

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.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Sometimes his ears and heart are pained by the scolding of government officials or enemies, directly or indirectly, who use arrogant words arising from their severe enthusiasm. This is like the sound of owls and crickets. This verse explains the sound of crickets. (SB 5.13.5) He becomes pained by the scolding of government officials having pride arising from harsh enthusiasm.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Criticism from enemies or government — direct or indirect — saddens the heart and ears like owls and crickets in the night. We cannot stop the sounds; we can only refuse to give them the volume they want.
Reflection Questions
  • What recent criticism are you giving more inner volume than it deserves?
  • What practice helps you turn down that volume without pretending the words were not spoken?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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