Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 19
Guṇa-viveka, Haṁsa-gītā, and the Yoga that Cuts False Ego
स मामचिन्तयद् देव: प्रश्नपारतितीर्षया । तस्याहं हंसरूपेण सकाशमगमं तदा ॥ १९ ॥
sa mām acintayad devaḥ praśna-pāra-titīrṣayā tasyāhaṁ haṁsa-rūpeṇa sakāśam agamaṁ tadā
Brahmā, der die andere Seite dieser Frage erreichen wollte, richtete seinen Geist auf Mich; da erschien Ich ihm in der Gestalt des Haṁsa.
Haṁsa means “swan,” and the specific ability of the swan is to separate a mixture of milk and water, extracting the rich, milky portion. Similarly, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared as Haṁsa, or the swan, in order to separate the pure consciousness of Lord Brahmā from the modes of material nature.
FAQs
This verse teaches that when one sincerely seeks to cross beyond doubt, remembrance and contemplation of the Supreme Lord invites divine guidance—here, the Lord appears as Haṁsa to resolve the questions.
Because Brahmā desired to transcend profound inquiries, the Lord responded to his meditation by manifesting as Haṁsa—an avatāra associated with discriminating spiritual wisdom and clarifying subtle truths.
Approach your doubts with sincerity, regularly remember the Lord (through prayer, japa, and study), and seek guidance in a spirit of devotion—this verse emphasizes that earnest seeking aligned with bhakti draws the right direction and clarity.