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Equanimity – Sign of Abidance in Lord

समृद्धकामो हीनो वा नारायणपरो मुनिः ।
नोत्सर्पेत न शुष्येत सरिद्भिरिव सागरः ।।
– श्रीमद्भागवतम् ११.८.६

Samṛddha-kāmo hīno vā nārāyaṇaparo muni: |
Notsarpeta na śuṣyeta saridbhiriva sāgara: ||
– śrīmadbhāgavatam 11.8.6

Translation

A Sage, whose mind rests steadily in nārāyaṇa considering Him to be the Supreme, is neither elated by abundance nor dejected by absence of the objects of desire, just as the sea (neither overflows nor dries up due to water brought in plentifully or scarcely) by the rivers.

Points for Introspection

Once Yadu Chakravarty happened to meet a young, brilliant avadhūta (a Wise ascetic wanderer), moving about just like a boy, having no worry or fear. The King asked him: “O Brāhmaṇa! You seem to be free of all desires to enjoy worldly pleasures. Remaining in the midst of this world, you seem to be unattached and free. Please be graceful to tell me the secret of the supreme delight that you seem to be enjoying in your own within.”

The avadhūta said, “O King! Wherever I have travelled, I have met many whom I have considered as my Gurus; from them I have learnt many a lesson in life. I observed them and used my own intelligence and discrimination. Through the lessons learnt from them, I have attained freedom from all shackles of the mind, and so am moving about happily and freely in this world.”

In this śloka, the avadhūta describes the lesson learnt from the ocean. An ocean always maintains its stability. It does not overflow during rainy season when rivers in spate bring in enormous quantities of water. Again in summer, when the rivers dry up or reach the ocean with very little water, there is no change in the ocean as such; it does not go dry. The ocean neither feels elated while receiving plenty, nor does it complain while getting very small quantity of water. It ever remains full and deep.

The avadhūta tells King Yadu that observing this nature of the ocean, he has learnt that in order to be full, deep and calm in all situations, one must accept favourable and unfavourable situations alike. One should neither be overwhelmed and exhilarated on receiving pleasurable items in plenty, nor be depressed or dejected when such objects of enjoyment are not there.

One may wonder: How can I get equanimity like an ocean, not be bothered by what I receive or what I lose? When will that happen?

The avadhūta observes: A sage, whose mind is fixed on God considering Him to be Supreme, attains equanimity like the ocean. He transcends all worldly desires. The only desire he has is to remember God constantly and serve Him and his devotees. Such a Sage, whose invaluable treasure is God Himself, wants nothing from this world. Keeping the Lord in his heart, remaining absorbed in the inner delight, he moves about from place to place!

Our suffering in the world is because we are either elated or depressed by the happenings in life. Whenever our desires are fulfilled we are overtly happy. Similarly, when desires are not fulfilled we are in great despair. One can live in this world with pure delight, fearlessness and confidence amidst any situation, when he is able to accept every event as ordained by God for his (the devotee’s) own ultimate auspicious growth.

When this śloka is chanted again and again, the mind leaves all its constrictions, preferences and prejudices, and experiences fullness and vastness of the ocean.

Word Meaning

समृद्धकामः (samṛddha-kāma:) = one who has gained desired objects in plenty; हीनः (hīna:) = one who is bereft of; वा (vā) = or; नारायणपरः (nārāyaṇa-para:) = one who has the mind steadily resting in Lord Nārayaṇa considering Him to be the Supreme; मुनिः (muni:) = a saint, ascetic; न (na) = not; उत्सर्पेत (utsarpeta) =swell up or elated; न (na) = not; शुष्येत (śuṣyeta) = dry up; सरिद्भिः (saridbhi:) = by the rivers; इव (iva) = like; सागरः (sāgara:) = ocean;

अन्वयः

नारायणपरः मुनिः समृद्धकामः वा हीनः, सरिद्भिः सागरः इव न उत्सर्पेत न शुष्येत ।

nārāyaṇa-para: muni: samṛddha-kāma: vā hīna:, saridbhi sāgara: iva na utsarpeta na śuṣyeta.