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
这愚昧的众生被自身业缚所系，为求世间之乐而造作诸业，结果唯得苦恼。然而以事奉至上人格神，便能荡除那虚妄的求乐之念。愿我至上师从心髓处斩断此欲结。
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.