Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 47
Matsya-avatāra: The Lord as Fish Saves the Vedas and Guides Satyavrata
जनोऽबुधोऽयं निजकर्मबन्धन: सुखेच्छया कर्म समीहतेऽसुखम् । यत्सेवया तां विधुनोत्यसन्मतिं ग्रन्थिं स भिन्द्याद् धृदयं स नो गुरु: ॥ ४७ ॥
jano ’budho ’yaṁ nija-karma-bandhanaḥ sukhecchayā karma samīhate ’sukham yat-sevayā tāṁ vidhunoty asan-matiṁ granthiṁ sa bhindyād dhṛdayaṁ sa no guruḥ
In hopes of becoming happy in this material world, the foolish conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that result only in suffering. But by rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from such false desires for happiness. May my supreme spiritual master cut the knot of false desires from the core of my heart.
For material happiness, the conditioned soul involves himself in fruitive activities, which actually put him into material distress. Because the conditioned soul does not know this, he is said to be in avidyā, or ignorance. Because of a false hope for happiness, the conditioned soul becomes involved in various plans for material activity. Here Mahārāja Satyavrata prays that the Lord sever this hard knot of false happiness and thus become his supreme spiritual master.
FAQs
This verse says people seek happiness through fruitive work, but because they remain bound by their own karma, that same pursuit results in unhappiness.
In his prayers during the Matsya-avatara narrative, Satyavrata emphasizes that only one who purifies wrong understanding and severs the heart’s knot of bondage deserves to be accepted as guru.
It advises shifting from endless happiness-seeking through results-driven work to sincere service and guidance under a genuine teacher who uproots misconceptions and inner attachments.