Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 59

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

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

satyavratasya rājarṣer māyā-matsyasya śārṅgiṇaḥ saṁvādaṁ mahad-ākhyānaṁ śrutvā mucyeta kilbiṣāt

Translation

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

Synonyms

• सत्यव्रतस्य: of Satyavrata
• सत्यव्रतस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्यव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—सत्य + व्रत (कर्मधारय)

• राजर्षेः: of the royal sage
• राजर्षेः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—राजन् + ऋषि (कर्मधारय)

• मायामत्स्यस्य: of the illusory fish (Matsya)
• मायामत्स्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मायामत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; समासः—माया + मत्स्य (कर्मधारय)

• शार्ङ्गिणः: of the bearer of Śārṅga (Viṣṇu)
• शार्ङ्गिणः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शार्ङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• संवादम्: the dialogue
• संवादम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: विशेषण (Adjectival)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• आख्यानम्: narrative
• आख्यानम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having heard’

• मुच्येत: would be freed
• मुच्येत: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• किल्बिषात्: from sin
• किल्बिषात्: अपादान (Apādāna/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किल्बिष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (King Satyavrata)
• Matsya (Lord Viṣṇu as the Fish)
• Śārṅgī (Lord Viṣṇu, wielder of Śārṅga bow)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about getting freed from sins by hearing sacred stories?

This verse states that simply hearing the great narration of Lord Matsya’s dialogue with King Satyavrata frees one from sinful reactions (kilbiṣa).

Who is the 'Śārṅgī' mentioned in Bhagavatam 8.24.59?

Śārṅgī means the wielder of the Śārṅga bow—Lord Viṣṇu—here specifically referring to Him in His Matsya-avatāra pastime.

Practical application: how can I use this teaching in modern life?

Practice śravaṇam—regularly hear or study Bhagavatam narrations with faith and attention—using it as a daily purification discipline to reduce harmful habits and cultivate devotion.