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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

Canto 11 · Chapter 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa

11.23.30 11.23.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.23.31

Mukti· Liberation

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Lord Kṛṣṇasince 11.23.31inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → UddhavaThe Avantī brāhmaṇa → himself

श्रीभगवानुवाच

इत्यभिप्रेत्य मनसा ह्यावन्त्यो द्विजसत्तम: ।

उन्मुच्य हृदयग्रन्थीन् शान्तो भिक्षुरभून्मुनि: ॥ ३१ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

ity abhipretya manasā

hy āvantyo dvija-sattamaḥ

unmucya hṛdaya-granthīn

śānto bhikṣur abhūn muniḥ

Translation

Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa continued: His mind thus determined, that most excellent Avantī brāhmaṇa was able to untie the knots of desire within his heart. He then assumed the role of a peaceful and silent sannyāsī mendicant.

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This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Determination Unties the Knots of Desire

1
Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa describes the Avantī brāhmaṇa as firmly determined in his mind.
2
With this determination, the brāhmaṇa unties the knots of desire within his heart.
3
He then becomes a peaceful and silent sannyāsī mendicant, adopting a life of renunciation.

How it feels

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 23: The Song of the Avantī Brāhmaṇa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In this condition he determined to engage the duration of his life in the worship of Lord Hari and thus accepted the mendicant order of tridaṇḍi-sannyāsa. Subsequently, he would enter different villages to beg charity, but the people would harass and disturb him.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 11.23