Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 31

The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa (Avanti-brāhmaṇa-gītā): Mind as the Root of Suffering and Equanimity Amid Insult

Devanagari script

श्रीभगवानुवाच इत्यभिप्रेत्य मनसा ह्यावन्त्यो द्विजसत्तम: । उन्मुच्य हृदयग्रन्थीन् शान्तो भिक्षुरभून्मुनि: ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-bhagavān uvāca ity abhipretya manasā hy āvantyo dvija-sattamaḥ unmucya hṛdaya-granthīn śānto bhikṣur abhūn muniḥ

Translation

主奎师那说：那位优秀的阿凡提婆罗门下定决心，解开了心中的结，成为了一位平静的托钵僧。

Synonyms

• śrī-bhagavān: Śrī Bhagavān (the Lord)
• śrī-bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (honorific)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्द (quotative particle)

• abhipretya: having intended; having understood
• abhipretya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-pra-i (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); उपसर्ग: abhi-pra-; अर्थ: 'having intended/considered'

• manasā: with the mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• āvantyaḥ: the Avanti (brāhmaṇa)
• āvantyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āvantya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; जनपद-निवासीवाचक (a man of Avanti)

• dvija-sattamaḥ: best of the twice-born
• dvija-sattamaḥ: Apposition (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'द्विजानां सत्तमः'

• unmucya: having loosened; having freed
• unmucya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-muc (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund); उपसर्ग: ud-; अर्थ: 'having untied/released'

• hṛdaya-granthīn: knots of the heart
• hṛdaya-granthīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya + granthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'हृदयस्य ग्रन्थीन्'

• śāntaḥ: peaceful; calm
• śāntaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śānta (प्रातिपदिक; √śam से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• bhikṣuḥ: a mendicant
• bhikṣuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• abhūt: became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• muniḥ: a sage
• muniḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Avanti Brāhmaṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam mean by “hṛdaya-granthi” (knots of the heart)?

In this verse, “hṛdaya-granthi” refers to deep inner attachments—false identification, possessiveness, and material desires—which the Avanti brāhmaṇa releases, becoming peaceful and fit for spiritual life.

Why did the Avanti brāhmaṇa become a bhikṣu (mendicant) in Canto 11?

After internally understanding the lesson of his suffering and detaching from worldly dependence, he chose the life of a mendicant to cultivate peace, realization, and freedom from material entanglement.

How can I apply this teaching of “untying the knots of the heart” in modern life?

Practice detachment by reducing possessiveness, accepting life’s reversals without resentment, and centering daily life on spiritual discipline—such as sincere prayer, study, and self-control—so the mind becomes peaceful.