Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

tam ūcur munayaḥ prītā rājan dhyāyasva keśavam sa vai naḥ saṅkaṭād asmād avitā śaṁ vidhāsyati

Translation

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

Synonyms

• तम्: to him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन

• प्रीताः: pleased
• प्रीताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीत (प्रातिपदिक; √प्री)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of ‘मुनयः’); क्त-प्रत्यय (PPP) used adjectivally

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

• ध्यायस्व: meditate (you)
• ध्यायस्व: Kriyā (आज्ञा/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative); मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• केशवम्: Keśava (Viṣṇu)
• केशवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केशव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात (particle of emphasis/assurance)

• नः: for us / of us
• नः: Sampradāna/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन-रूप (Genitive/Dative plural enclitic); ‘of us/to us’

• सङ्कटात्: from danger, from distress
• सङ्कटात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्कट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन

• अस्मात्: from this
• अस्मात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अविता: protector
• अविता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवितृ (प्रातिपदिक; √अव्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक (protector)

• शम्: welfare, auspicious good
• शम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Phala (फल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; मंगल/कल्याणार्थक (benedictive adverb: well-being)

• विधास्यति: will arrange, will bring about
• विधास्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√धा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• King Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Keśava (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say to do when facing danger or संकट (saṅkaṭa)?

This verse advises meditating on Keśava (Lord Viṣṇu), affirming Him as the true protector who can remove peril and grant auspiciousness.

Why did the sages tell King Satyavrata to meditate on Keśava?

Because the situation was perilous and beyond ordinary means; the sages direct the king toward divine remembrance and reliance on Viṣṇu as the ultimate savior.

How can I apply “dhyāyasva Keśavam” in modern life?

In crisis, steady the mind by remembering and praying to the Lord—through mantra, japa, or focused contemplation—then act responsibly, trusting the Lord to arrange the outcome.