Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 22

Matsya-avatāra: The Lord as Fish Saves the Vedas and Guides Satyavrata

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

naitan me svastaye rājann udakaṁ salilaukasaḥ nidhehi rakṣā-yogena hrade mām avidāsini

Translation

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.

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; 'this is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मे: for me/of me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्वस्तये: for safety
• स्वस्तये: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; 'for well-being/safety'

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• उदकम्: water
• उदकम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; 'water is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सलिल-ओकसः: of the water-dweller(s)
• सलिल-ओकसः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + ओकस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सलिलस्य ओकः = 'dweller of water' (aquatic being)

• निधेहि: place/put
• निधेहि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• रक्षा-योगेन: with protective arrangement
• रक्षा-योगेन: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रक्षायाः योगः = 'means/arrangement of protection'

• ह्रदे: in a pond/lake
• ह्रदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ह्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अविदासिनि: O ignorant one
• अविदासिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविदासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; विशेषण (addressing the king): 'O unknowing/ignorant one'

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (King Satyavrata, later Vaivasvata Manu)
• Matsya

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya Avatar asking for protection?

In this verse, the small fish (Matsya) tells King Satyavrata that ordinary water is not suitable for Him and asks to be placed safely in a deep lake—showing the Lord’s līlā of accepting a devotee’s service and care.

Why did Matsya say this to King Satyavrata?

Matsya was drawing the king into a relationship of service and protection; by following the fish’s request, Satyavrata’s devotion deepens, preparing him for the coming divine mission connected with the flood narrative.

Practical application of protecting the Lord’s devotee or dharma in modern life?

Offer steady, practical support to sacred responsibilities—protect spiritual practice, scriptures, teachers, and communities with thoughtful care, just as the king carefully protected what he understood to be extraordinary.