paribhūta imāḿ gāthām
agāyata narādhamaiḥ
pātayadbhiḥ sva dharma-stho
dhṛtim āsthāya sāttvikīm
paribhutah -- insulted; imam -- this; gatham -- song; agayata -- he sang; nara-adhamaih -- by low-class men; patayadbhih -- who were trying to make him fall down; sva-dharma -- in his own duty; sthah -- remaining firm; dhritim -- his resolution; asthaya -- fixing; sattvikim -- in the mode of goodness.
Even while being insulted by these low-class men who were trying to effect his downfall, he remained steady in his spiritual duties. Fixing his resolution in the mode of goodness, he began to chant the following song.
Resolution in the mode of goodness is described in Bhagavad-gita (18.33):
dhritya yaya dharayate
manah-pranendriya-kriyah
yogenavyabhicarinya
dhritih sa partha sattviki
"O son of Pritha, that determination which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and thus controls the mind, life and the acts of the senses, is in the mode of goodness."
Atheists who are envious of the devotees of the Supreme Lord are called naradhamas, or the lowest of men, and undoubtedly are enroute to hell. By all means at their disposal they disturb the devotional service of the Lord, sometimes by direct attack and sometimes by mockery. The devotees, however, remain tolerant, fixing their determination in the mode of goodness. As described by Srila Rupa Gosvami in Sri Upadesamrita (1),
vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam
jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam
etan vegan yo vishaheta dhirah
sarvam apimam prithivim sa sishyat
"A sober person who can tolerate the urge to speak, the mind's demands, the actions of anger and the urges of the tongue, belly and genitals is qualified to make disciples all over the world."
