Srimad Bhagavatam · Canto 8 · Chapter 24

Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation

8.24.1

श्रीराजोवाच भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि हरेरद्भ‍ुतकर्मण: । अवतारकथामाद्यां मायामत्स्यविडम्बनम् ॥ १ ॥

sri-rajovaca bhagavan chrotum icchami harer adbhuta-karmanah avatara-katham adyam maya-matsya-vidambanam

Maharaja Pariksit said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is eternally situated in His transcendental position, yet He descends to this material world and manifests Himself in various incarnations. His first incarnation was that of a great fish. O most powerful Sukadeva Gosvami, I wish to hear from you the pastimes of that fish incarnation.

8.24.2-3

यदर्थमदधाद् रूपं मात्स्यं लोकजुगुप्सितम् । तम:प्रकृति दुर्मर्षं कर्मग्रस्त इवेश्वर: ॥ २ ॥ एतन्नो भगवन् सर्वं यथावद् वक्तुमर्हसि । उत्तमश्लोकचरितं सर्वलोकसुखावहम् ॥ ३ ॥

yad-artham adadhad rupam matsyam loka-jugupsitam tamah-prakrti-durmarsam karma-grasta ivesvarah etan no bhagavan sarvam yathavad vaktum arhasi uttamasloka-caritam sarva-loka-sukhavaham

What was the purpose for which the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted the abominable form of a fish, exactly as an ordinary living being accepts different forms under the laws of karma? The form of a fish is certainly condemned and full of terrible pain. O my lord, what was the purpose of this incarnation? Kindly explain this to us, for hearing about the pastimes of the Lord is auspicious for everyone.

8.24.4

श्रीसूत उवाच इत्युक्तो विष्णुरातेन भगवान् बादरायणि: । उवाच चरितं विष्णोर्मत्स्यरूपेण यत् कृतम् ॥ ४ ॥

sri-suta uvaca ity ukto visnu-ratena bhagavan badarayanih uvaca caritam visnor matsya-rupena yat krtam

Suta Gosvami said: When Pariksit Maharaja thus inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami, that most powerful saintly person began describing the pastimes of the Lord’s incarnation as a fish.

8.24.5

श्रीशुक उवाच गोविप्रसुरसाधूनां छन्दसामपि चेश्वर: । रक्षामिच्छंस्तनूर्धत्ते धर्मस्यार्थस्य चैव हि ॥ ५ ॥

sri-suka uvaca go-vipra-sura-sadhunam chandasam api cesvarah raksam icchams tanur dhatte dharmasyarthasya caiva hi

Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, for the sake of protecting the cows, brahmanas, demigods, devotees, the Vedic literature, religious principles, and principles to fulfill the purpose of life, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts the forms of incarnations.

8.24.6

उच्चावचेषु भूतेषु चरन् वायुरिवेश्वर: । नोच्चावचत्वं भजते निर्गुणत्वाद्धियो गुणै: ॥ ६ ॥

uccavacesu bhutesu caran vayur ivesvarah noccavacatvam bhajate nirgunatvad dhiyo gunaih

Like the air passing through different types of atmosphere, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although appearing sometimes as a human being and sometimes as a lower animal, is always transcendental. Because He is above the material modes of nature, He is unaffected by higher and lower forms.

8.24.7

आसीदतीतकल्पान्ते ब्राह्मो नैमित्तिको लय: । समुद्रोपप्लुतास्तत्र लोका भूरादयो नृप ॥ ७ ॥

asid atita-kalpante brahmo naimittiko layah samudropaplutas tatra loka bhur-adayo nrpa

O King Pariksit, at the end of the past millennium, at the end of Brahma’s day, because Lord Brahma sleeps during the night, annihilation took place, and the three worlds were covered by the water of the ocean.

8.24.8

कालेनागतनिद्रस्य धातु: शिशयिषोर्बली । मुखतो नि:सृतान् वेदान् हयग्रीवोऽन्तिकेऽहरत् ॥ ८ ॥

kalenagata-nidrasya dhatuh sisayisor bali mukhato nihsrtan vedan hayagrivo ’ntike ’harat

At the end of Brahma’s day, when Brahma felt sleepy and desired to lie down, the Vedas were emanating from his mouth, and the great demon named Hayagriva stole the Vedic knowledge.

8.24.9

ज्ञात्वा तद् दानवेन्द्रस्य हयग्रीवस्य चेष्टितम् । दधार शफरीरूपं भगवान् हरिरीश्वर: ॥ ९ ॥

jnatva tad danavendrasya hayagrivasya cestitam dadhara saphari-rupam bhagavan harir isvarah

Understanding the acts of the great demon Hayagriva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is full of all opulences, assumed the form of a fish and saved the Vedas by killing the demon.

8.24.10

तत्र राजऋषि: कश्चिन्नाम्ना सत्यव्रतो महान् । नारायणपरोऽतपत् तप: स सलिलाशन: ॥ १० ॥

tatra raja-rsih kascin namna satyavrato mahan narayana-paro ’tapat tapah sa salilasanah

During the Caksusa-manvantara there was a great king named Satyavrata who was a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Satyavrata performed austerities by subsisting only on water.

8.24.11

योऽसावस्मिन् महाकल्पे तनय: स विवस्वत: । श्राद्धदेव इति ख्यातो मनुत्वे हरिणार्पित: ॥ ११ ॥

yo ’sav asmin maha-kalpe tanayah sa vivasvatah sraddhadeva iti khyato manutve harinarpitah

In this (the present) millennium King Satyavrata later became the son of Vivasvan, the king of the sun plane, and was known as Sraddhadeva. By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was given the post of Manu.

8.24.12

एकदा कृतमालायां कुर्वतो जलतर्पणम् । तस्याञ्जल्युदके काचिच्छफर्येकाभ्यपद्यत ॥ १२ ॥

ekada krtamalayam kurvato jala-tarpanam tasyanjaly-udake kacic chaphary ekabhyapadyata

One day while King Satyavrata was performing austerities by offering water on the bank of the River Krtamala, a small fish appeared in the water in his palms.

8.24.13

सत्यव्रतोऽञ्जलिगतां सह तोयेन भारत । उत्ससर्ज नदीतोये शफरीं द्रविडेश्वर: ॥ १३ ॥

satyavrato ’njali-gatam saha toyena bharata utsasarja nadi-toye sapharim dravidesvarah

Satyavrata, the King of Dravidadesa, threw the fish into the water of the river along with the water in his palm, O King Pariksit, descendant of Bharata.

8.24.14

तमाह सातिकरुणं महाकारुणिकं नृपम् । यादोभ्यो ज्ञातिघातिभ्यो दीनां मां दीनवत्सल । कथं विसृजसे राजन् भीतामस्मिन् सरिज्जले ॥ १४ ॥

tam aha satikarunam maha-karunikam nrpam yadobhyo jnati-ghatibhyo dinam mam dina-vatsala katham visrjase rajan bhitam asmin sarij-jale

With an appealing voice, the poor small fish said to King Satyavrata, who was very merciful: My dear King, protector of the poor, why are you throwing Me in the water of the river, where there are other aquatics who can kill Me? I am very much afraid of them.

8.24.15

तमात्मनोऽनुग्रहार्थं प्रीत्या मत्स्यवपुर्धरम् । अजानन् रक्षणार्थाय शफर्या: स मनो दधे ॥ १५ ॥

tam atmano ’nugrahartham pritya matsya-vapur-dharam ajanan raksanarthaya sapharyah sa mano dadhe

To please himself, King Satyavrata, not knowing that the fish was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, decided with great pleasure to give the fish protection.

8.24.16

तस्या दीनतरं वाक्यमाश्रुत्य स महीपति: । कलशाप्सु निधायैनां दयालुर्निन्य आश्रमम् ॥ १६ ॥

tasya dinataram vakyam asrutya sa mahipatih kalasapsu nidhayainam dayalur ninya asramam

The merciful King, being moved by the pitiable words of the fish, placed the fish in a water jug and brought Him to his own residence.

8.24.17

सा तु तत्रैकरात्रेण वर्धमाना कमण्डलौ । अलब्ध्वात्मावकाशं वा इदमाह महीपतिम् ॥ १७ ॥

sa tu tatraika-ratrena vardhamana kamandalau alabdhvatmavakasam va idam aha mahipatim

But in one night that fish grew so much that He could not move His body comfortably in the water of the pot. He then spoke to the King as follows.

8.24.18

नाहं कमण्डलावस्मिन् कृच्छ्रं वस्तुमिहोत्सहे । कल्पयौक: सुविपुलं यत्राहं निवसे सुखम् ॥ १८ ॥

naham kamandalav asmin krcchram vastum ihotsahe kalpayaukah suvipulam yatraham nivase sukham

O My dear King, I do not like living in this waterpot with such great difficulty. Therefore, please find some better reservoir of water where I can live comfortably.

8.24.19

स एनां तत आदाय न्यधादौदञ्चनोदके । तत्र क्षिप्ता मुहूर्तेन हस्तत्रयमवर्धत ॥ १९ ॥

sa enam tata adaya nyadhad audancanodake tatra ksipta muhurtena hasta-trayam avardhata

Then, taking the fish out of the waterpot, the King threw Him in a large well. But within a moment the fish developed to the length of three cubits.

8.24.20

न म एतदलं राजन् सुखं वस्तुमुदञ्चनम् । पृथु देहि पदं मह्यं यत् त्वाहं शरणं गता ॥ २० ॥

na ma etad alam rajan sukham vastum udancanam prthu dehi padam mahyam yat tvaham saranam gata

The fish then said: My dear King, this reservoir of water is not fit for My happy residence. Please give Me a more extensive pool of water, for I have taken shelter of you.

8.24.21

तत आदाय सा राज्ञा क्षिप्ता राजन् सरोवरे । तदावृत्यात्मना सोऽयं महामीनोऽन्ववर्धत ॥ २१ ॥

tata adaya sa rajna ksipta rajan sarovare tad avrtyatmana so ’yam maha-mino ’nvavardhata

O Maharaja Pariksit, the King took the fish from the well and threw Him in a lake, but the fish then assumed a gigantic form exceeding the extent of the water.

8.24.22

नैतन्मे स्वस्तये राजन्नुदकं सलिलौकस: । निधेहि रक्षायोगेन ह्रदे मामविदासिनि ॥ २२ ॥

naitan me svastaye rajann udakam salilaukasah nidhehi raksa-yogena hrade mam avidasini

The fish then said: O King, I am a large aquatic, and this water is not at all suitable for Me. Now kindly find some way to save Me. It would be better to put Me in the water of a lake that will never reduce.

8.24.23

इत्युक्त: सोऽनयन्मत्स्यं तत्र तत्राविदासिनि । जलाशयेऽसम्मितं तं समुद्रे प्राक्षिपज्झषम् ॥ २३ ॥

ity uktah so ’nayan matsyam tatra tatravidasini jalasaye ’sammitam tam samudre praksipaj jhasam

When thus requested, King Satyavrata took the fish to the largest reservoir of water. But when that also proved insufficient, the King at last threw the gigantic fish into the ocean.

8.24.24

क्षिप्यमाणस्तमाहेदमिह मां मकरादय: । अदन्त्यतिबला वीर मां नेहोत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥ २४ ॥

ksipyamanas tam ahedam iha mam makaradayah adanty atibala vira mam nehotsrastum arhasi

While being thrown in the ocean, the fish said to King Satyavrata: O hero, in this water there are very powerful and dangerous sharks that will eat Me. Therefore you should not throw Me in this place.

8.24.25

एवं विमोहितस्तेन वदता वल्गुभारतीम् । तमाह को भवानस्मान् मत्स्यरूपेण मोहयन् ॥ २५ ॥

evam vimohitas tena vadata valgu-bharatim tam aha ko bhavan asman matsya-rupena mohayan

After hearing these sweet words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a fish, the King, being bewildered, asked Him: Who are You, sir? You simply bewilder us.

8.24.26

नैवंवीर्यो जलचरो द‍ृष्टोऽस्माभि: श्रुतोऽपि वा । यो भवान् योजनशतमह्नाभिव्यानशे सर: ॥ २६ ॥

naivam viryo jalacaro drsto ’smabhih sruto ’pi va yo bhavan yojana-satam ahnabhivyanase sarah

My Lord, in one day You have expanded Yourself for hundreds of miles, covering the water of the river and the ocean. Before this I had never seen or heard of such an aquatic animal.

8.24.27

नूनं त्वं भगवान् साक्षाद्धरिर्नारायणोऽव्यय: । अनुग्रहाय भूतानां धत्से रूपं जलौकसाम् ॥ २७ ॥

nunam tvam bhagavan saksad dharir narayano ’vyayah anugrahaya bhutanam dhatse rupam jalaukasam

My Lord, You are certainly the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead, Narayana, Sri Hari. It is to show Your mercy to the living entities that You have now assumed the form of an aquatic.

8.24.28

नमस्ते पुरुषश्रेष्ठ स्थित्युत्पत्त्यप्ययेश्वर । भक्तानां न: प्रपन्नानां मुख्यो ह्यात्मगतिर्विभो ॥ २८ ॥

namas te purusa-srestha sthity-utpatty-apyayesvara bhaktanam nah prapannanam mukhyo hy atma-gatir vibho

O my Lord, master of creation, maintenance and annihilation, O best of enjoyers, Lord Visnu, You are the leader and destination of surrendered devotees like us. Therefore let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

8.24.29

सर्वे लीलावतारास्ते भूतानां भूतिहेतव: । ज्ञातुमिच्छाम्यदो रूपं यदर्थं भवता धृतम् ॥ २९ ॥

sarve lilavataras te bhutanam bhuti-hetavah jnatum icchamy ado rupam yad-artham bhavata dhrtam

All Your pastimes and incarnations certainly appear for the welfare of all living entities. Therefore, my Lord, I wish to know the purpose for which You have assumed this form of a fish.

8.24.30

न तेऽरविन्दाक्ष पदोपसर्पणं मृषा भवेत् सर्वसुहृत्प्रियात्मन: । यथेतरेषां पृथगात्मनां सता- मदीद‍ृशो यद् वपुरद्भ‍ुतं हि न: ॥ ३० ॥

na te ’ravindaksa padopasarpanam mrsa bhavet sarva-suhrt-priyatmanah yathetaresam prthag-atmanam satam adidrso yad vapur adbhutam hi nah

O my Lord, possessing eyes like the petals of a lotus, the worship of the demigods, who are in the bodily concept of life, is fruitless in all respects. But because You are the supreme friend and dearmost Supersoul of everyone, worship of Your lotus feet is never useless. You have therefore manifested Your form as a fish.

8.24.31

श्रीशुक उवाच इति ब्रुवाणं नृपतिं जगत्पति: सत्यव्रतं मत्स्यवपुर्युगक्षये । विहर्तुकाम: प्रलयार्णवेऽब्रवी- च्चिकीर्षुरेकान्तजनप्रिय: प्रियम् ॥ ३१ ॥

sri-suka uvaca iti bruvanam nrpatim jagat-patih satyavratam matsya-vapur yuga-ksaye vihartu-kamah pralayarnave ’bravic cikirsur ekanta-jana-priyah priyam

Sukadeva Gosvami said: When King Satyavrata spoke in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who at the end of the yuga had assumed the form of a fish to benefit His devotee and enjoy His pastimes in the water of inundation, responded as follows.

8.24.32

श्रीभगवानुवाच सप्तमे ह्यद्यतनादूर्ध्वमहन्येतदरिंदम । निमङ्‌क्ष्यत्यप्ययाम्भोधौ त्रैलोक्यं भूर्भुवादिकम् ॥ ३२ ॥

sri-bhagavan uvaca saptame hy adyatanad urdhvam ahany etad arindama nimanksyaty apyayambhodhau trailokyam bhur-bhuvadikam

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O King, who can subdue your enemies, on the seventh day from today the three worlds—Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah—will all merge into the water of inundation.

8.24.33

त्रिलोक्यां लीयमानायां संवर्ताम्भसि वै तदा । उपस्थास्यति नौ: काचिद् विशाला त्वां मयेरिता ॥ ३३ ॥

tri-lokyam liyamanayam samvartambhasi vai tada upasthasyati nauh kacid visala tvam mayerita

When all the three worlds merge into the water, a large boat sent by Me will appear before you.

8.24.34-35

त्वं तावदोषधी: सर्वा बीजान्युच्चावचानि च । सप्तर्षिभि: परिवृत: सर्वसत्त्वोपबृंहित: ॥ ३४ ॥ आरुह्य बृहतीं नावं विचरिष्यस्यविक्लव: । एकार्णवे निरालोके ऋषीणामेव वर्चसा ॥ ३५ ॥

tvam tavad osadhih sarva bijany uccavacani ca saptarsibhih parivrtah sarva-sattvopabrmhitah aruhya brhatim navam vicarisyasy aviklavah ekarnave niraloke rsinam eva varcasa

Thereafter, O King, you shall collect all types of herbs and seeds and load them on that great boat. Then, accompanied by the seven rsis and surrounded by all kinds of living entities, you shall get aboard that boat, and without moroseness you shall easily travel with your companions on the ocean of inundation, the only illumination being the effulgence of the great rsis.

8.24.36

दोधूयमानां तां नावं समीरेण बलीयसा । उपस्थितस्य मे श‍ृङ्गे निबध्नीहि महाहिना ॥ ३६ ॥

dodhuyamanam tam navam samirena baliyasa upasthitasya me srnge nibadhnihi mahahina

Then, as the boat is tossed about by the powerful winds, attach the vessel to My horn by means of the great serpent Vasuki, for I shall be present by your side.

8.24.37

अहं त्वामृषिभि: सार्धं सहनावमुदन्वति । विकर्षन् विचरिष्यामि यावद् ब्राह्मी निशा प्रभो ॥ ३७ ॥

aham tvam rsibhih sardham saha-navam udanvati vikarsan vicarisyami yavad brahmi nisa prabho

Pulling the boat, with you and all the rsis in it, O King, I shall travel in the water of devastation until the night of Lord Brahma’s slumber is over.

8.24.38

मदीयं महिमानं च परं ब्रह्मेति शब्दितम् । वेत्स्यस्यनुगृहीतं मे सम्प्रश्नैर्विवृतं हृदि ॥ ३८ ॥

madiyam mahimanam ca param brahmeti sabditam vetsyasy anugrhitam me samprasnair vivrtam hrdi

You will be thoroughly advised and favored by Me, and because of your inquiries, everything about My glories, which are known as param brahma, will be manifest within your heart. Thus you will know everything about Me.

8.24.39

इत्थमादिश्य राजानं हरिरन्तरधीयत । सोऽन्ववैक्षत तं कालं यं हृषीकेश आदिशत् ॥ ३९ ॥

ittham adisya rajanam harir antaradhiyata so ’nvavaiksata tam kalam yam hrsikesa adisat

After thus instructing the King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead immediately disappeared. Then King Satyavrata began to wait for that time of which the Lord had instructed.

8.24.40

आस्तीर्य दर्भान् प्राक्कूलान् राजर्षि: प्रागुदङ्‌मुख: । निषसाद हरे: पादौ चिन्तयन् मत्स्यरूपिण: ॥ ४० ॥

astirya darbhan prak-kulan rajarsih prag-udan-mukhah nisasada hareh padau cintayan matsya-rupinah

After spreading kusa with its tips pointing east, the saintly King, himself facing the northeast, sat down on the grass and began to meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, who had assumed the form of a fish.

8.24.41

तत: समुद्र उद्वेल: सर्वत: प्लावयन् महीम् । वर्धमानो महामेघैर्वर्षद्भ‍ि: समद‍ृश्यत ॥ ४१ ॥

tatah samudra udvelah sarvatah plavayan mahim vardhamano maha-meghair varsadbhih samadrsyata

Thereafter, gigantic clouds pouring incessant water swelled the ocean more and more. Thus the ocean began to overflow onto the land and inundate the entire world.

8.24.42

ध्यायन् भगवदादेशं दद‍ृशे नावमागताम् । तामारुरोह विप्रेन्द्रैरादायौषधिवीरुध: ॥ ४२ ॥

dhyayan bhagavad-adesam dadrse navam agatam tam aruroha viprendrair adayausadhi-virudhah

As Satyavrata remembered the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he saw a boat coming near him. Thus he collected herbs and creepers, and, accompanied by saintly brahmanas, he got aboard the boat.

8.24.43

तमूचुर्मुनय: प्रीता राजन् ध्यायस्व केशवम् । स वै न: सङ्कटादस्मादविता शं विधास्यति ॥ ४३ ॥

tam ucur munayah prita rajan dhyayasva kesavam sa vai nah sankatad asmad avita sam vidhasyati

The saintly brahmanas, being pleased with the King, said to him: O King, please meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kesava. He will save us from this impending danger and arrange for our well-being.

8.24.44

सोऽनुध्यातस्ततो राज्ञा प्रादुरासीन्महार्णवे । एकश‍ृङ्गधरो मत्स्यो हैमो नियुतयोजन: ॥ ४४ ॥

so ’nudhyatas tato rajna pradurasin maharnave eka-srnga-dharo matsyo haimo niyuta-yojanah

Then, while the King constantly meditated upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a large golden fish appeared in the ocean of inundation. The fish had one horn and was eight million miles long.

8.24.45

निबध्य नावं तच्छृङ्गे यथोक्तो हरिणा पुरा । वरत्रेणाहिना तुष्टस्तुष्टाव मधुसूदनम् ॥ ४५ ॥

nibadhya navam tac-chrnge yathokto harina pura varatrenahina tustas tustava madhusudanam

Following the instructions formerly given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the King anchored the boat to the fish’s horn, using the serpent Vasuki as a rope. Thus being satisfied, he began offering prayers to the Lord.

8.24.46

श्रीराजोवाच अनाद्यविद्योपहतात्मसंविद- स्तन्मूलसंसारपरिश्रमातुरा: । यद‍ृच्छयोपसृता यमाप्नुयु- र्विमुक्तिदो न: परमो गुरुर्भवान् ॥ ४६ ॥

sri-rajovaca anady-avidyopahatatma-samvidas tan-mula-samsara-parisramaturah yadrcchayopasrta yam apnuyur vimuktido nah paramo gurur bhavan

The King said: By the grace of the Lord, those who have lost their self-knowledge since time immemorial, and who because of this ignorance are involved in a material, conditional life full of miseries, obtain the chance to meet the Lord’s devotee. I accept that Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme spiritual master.

8.24.47

जनोऽबुधोऽयं निजकर्मबन्धन: सुखेच्छया कर्म समीहतेऽसुखम् । यत्सेवया तां विधुनोत्यसन्मतिं ग्रन्थिं स भिन्द्याद् धृदयं स नो गुरु: ॥ ४७ ॥

jano ’budho ’yam nija-karma-bandhanah sukhecchaya karma samihate ’sukham yat-sevaya tam vidhunoty asan-matim granthim sa bhindyad dhrdayam sa no guruh

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.

8.24.48

यत्सेवयाग्नेरिव रुद्ररोदनं पुमान् विजह्यान्मलमात्मनस्तम: । भजेत वर्णं निजमेष सोऽव्ययो भूयात् स ईश: परमो गुरोर्गुरु: ॥ ४८ ॥

yat-sevayagner iva rudra-rodanam puman vijahyan malam atmanas tamah bhajeta varnam nijam esa so ’vyayo bhuyat sa isah paramo guror guruh

One who wants to be free of material entanglement should take to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and give up the contamination of ignorance, involving pious and impious activities. Thus one regains his original identity, just as a block of gold or silver sheds all dirt and becomes purified when treated with fire. May that inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead become our spiritual master, for He is the original spiritual master of all other spiritual masters.

8.24.49

न यत्प्रसादायुतभागलेश- मन्ये च देवा गुरवो जना: स्वयम् । कर्तुं समेता: प्रभवन्ति पुंस- स्तमीश्वरं त्वां शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥ ४९ ॥

na yat-prasadayuta-bhaga-lesam anye ca deva guravo janah svayam kartum sametah prabhavanti pumsas tam isvaram tvam saranam prapadye

Neither all the demigods, nor the so-called gurus nor all other people, either independently or together, can offer mercy that equals even one ten-thousandth of Yours. Therefore I wish to take shelter of Your lotus feet.

8.24.50

अचक्षुरन्धस्य यथाग्रणी: कृत- स्तथा जनस्याविदुषोऽबुधो गुरु: । त्वमर्कद‍ृक् सर्वद‍ृशां समीक्षणो वृतो गुरुर्न: स्वगतिं बुभुत्सताम् ॥ ५० ॥

acaksur andhasya yathagranih krtas tatha janasyaviduso ’budho guruh tvam arka-drk sarva-drsam samiksano vrto gurur nah sva-gatim bubhutsatam

As a blind man, being unable to see, accepts another blind man as his leader, people who do not know the goal of life accept someone as a guru who is a rascal and a fool. But we are interested in self-realization. Therefore we accept You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as our spiritual master, for You are able to see in all directions and are omniscient like the sun.

8.24.51

जनो जनस्यादिशतेऽसतीं गतिं यया प्रपद्येत दुरत्ययं तम: । त्वं त्वव्ययं ज्ञानममोघमञ्जसा प्रपद्यते येन जनो निजं पदम् ॥ ५१ ॥

jano janasyadisate ’satim gatim yaya prapadyeta duratyayam tamah tvam tv avyayam jnanam amogham anjasa prapadyate yena jano nijam padam

A materialistic so-called guru instructs his materialistic disciples about economic development and sense gratification, and because of such instructions the foolish disciples continue in the materialistic existence of ignorance. But Your Lordship gives knowledge that is eternal, and the intelligent person receiving such knowledge is quickly situated in his original constitutional position.

8.24.52

त्वं सर्वलोकस्य सुहृत् प्रियेश्वरो ह्यात्मा गुरुर्ज्ञानमभीष्टसिद्धि: । तथापि लोको न भवन्तमन्धधी- र्जानाति सन्तं हृदि बद्धकाम: ॥ ५२ ॥

tvam sarva-lokasya suhrt priyesvaro hy atma gurur jnanam abhista-siddhih tathapi loko na bhavantam andha-dhir janati santam hrdi baddha-kamah

My Lord, You are the supreme well-wishing friend of everyone, the dearmost friend, the controller, the Supersoul, the supreme instructor and the giver of supreme knowledge and the fulfillment of all desires. But although You are within the heart, the foolish, because of lusty desires in the heart, cannot understand You.

8.24.53

त्वं त्वामहं देववरं वरेण्यं प्रपद्य ईशं प्रतिबोधनाय । छिन्ध्यर्थदीपैर्भगवन् वचोभि- र्ग्रन्थीन् हृदय्यान् विवृणु स्वमोक: ॥ ५३ ॥

tvam tvam aham deva-varam varenyam prapadya isam pratibodhanaya chindhy artha-dipair bhagavan vacobhir granthin hrdayyan vivrnu svam okah

O Supreme Lord, for self-realization I surrender unto You, who are worshiped by the demigods as the supreme controller of everything. By Your instructions, exposing life’s purpose, kindly cut the knot from the core of my heart and let me know the destination of my life.

8.24.54

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्तवन्तं नृपतिं भगवानादिपूरुष: । मत्स्यरूपी महाम्भोधौ विहरंस्तत्त्वमब्रवीत् ॥ ५४ ॥

sri-suka uvaca ity uktavantam nrpatim bhagavan adi-purusah matsya-rupi mahambhodhau viharams tattvam abravit

Sukadeva Gosvami continued: When Satyavrata had thus prayed to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had assumed the form of a fish, the Lord, while moving in the water of inundation, explained to him the Absolute Truth.

8.24.55

पुराणसंहितां दिव्यां साङ्ख्ययोगक्रियावतीम् । सत्यव्रतस्य राजर्षेरात्मगुह्यमशेषत: ॥ ५५ ॥

purana-samhitam divyam sankhya-yoga-kriyavatim satyavratasya rajarser atma-guhyam asesatah

The Supreme Personality of Godhead thus explained to King Satyavrata the spiritual science known as sankhya-yoga, the science by which one distinguishes between matter and spirit (in other words, bhakti-yoga), along with the instructions contained in the Puranas (the old histories) and the samhitas. The Lord explained Himself in all these literatures.

8.24.56

अश्रौषीद‍ृषिभि: साकमात्मतत्त्वमसंशयम् । नाव्यासीनो भगवता प्रोक्तं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥ ५६ ॥

asrausid rsibhih sakam atma-tattvam asamsayam navy asino bhagavata proktam brahma sanatanam

While sitting in the boat, King Satyavrata, accompanied by the great saintly persons, listened to the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in regard to self-realization. These instructions were all from the eternal Vedic literature (brahma). Thus the King and sages had no doubt about the Absolute Truth.

8.24.57

अतीतप्रलयापाय उत्थिताय स वेधसे । हत्वासुरं हयग्रीवं वेदान् प्रत्याहरद्धरि: ॥ ५७ ॥

atita-pralayapaya utthitaya sa vedhase hatvasuram hayagrivam vedan pratyaharad dharih

At the end of the last inundation (during the period of Svayambhuva Manu) the Supreme Personality of Godhead killed the demon named Hayagriva and delivered all the Vedic literatures to Lord Brahma when Lord Brahma awakened from sleeping.

8.24.58

स तु सत्यव्रतो राजा ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुत: । विष्णो: प्रसादात् कल्पेऽस्मिन्नासीद् वैवस्वतो मनु: ॥ ५८ ॥

sa tu satyavrato raja jnana-vijnana-samyutah visnoh prasadat kalpe ’sminn asid vaivasvato manuh

King Satyavrata was illuminated with all Vedic knowledge by the mercy of Lord Visnu, and in this period he has now taken birth as Vaivasvata Manu, the son of the sun-god.

8.24.59

सत्यव्रतस्य राजर्षेर्मायामत्स्यस्य शार्ङ्गिण: । संवादं महदाख्यानं श्रुत्वा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥ ५९ ॥

satyavratasya rajarser maya-matsyasya sarnginah samvadam mahad-akhyanam srutva mucyeta kilbisat

This story concerning the great King Satyavrata and the fish incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Visnu, is a great transcendental narration. Anyone who hears it is delivered from the reactions of sinful life.

8.24.60

अवतारं हरेर्योऽयं कीर्तयेदन्वहं नर: । सङ्कल्पास्तस्य सिध्यन्ति स याति परमां गतिम् ॥ ६० ॥

avataram harer yo ’yam kirtayed anvaham narah sankalpas tasya sidhyanti sa yati paramam gatim

One who narrates this description of the Matsya incarnation and King Satyavrata will certainly have all his ambitions fulfilled, and he will undoubtedly return home, back to Godhead.

8.24.61

प्रलयपयसि धातु: सुप्तशक्तेर्मुखेभ्य: श्रुतिगणमपनीतं प्रत्युपादत्त हत्वा । दितिजमकथयद् यो ब्रह्म सत्यव्रतानां तमहमखिलहेतुं जिह्ममीनं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ६१ ॥ स वै मन: कृष्णपदारविन्दयो- र्वचांसि वैकुण्ठगुणानुवर्णने । करौ हरेर्मन्दिरमार्जनादिषु श्रुतिं चकाराच्युतसत्कथोदये ॥

pralaya-payasi dhatuh supta-sakter mukhebhyah sruti-ganam apanitam pratyupadatta hatva ditijam akathayad yo brahma satyavratanam tam aham akhila-hetum jihma-minam nato ’smi

I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who pretended to be a gigantic fish, who restored the Vedic literature to Lord Brahma when Lord Brahma awakened from sleep, and who explained the essence of Vedic literature to King Satyavrata and the great saintly persons.