Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

na ma etad alaṁ rājan sukhaṁ vastum udañcanam pṛthu dehi padaṁ mahyaṁ yat tvāhaṁ śaraṇaṁ gatā

Translation

Der Fisch sprach: „O König, dieses Wasserbecken taugt nicht zu Meinem glückseligen Aufenthalt. Gib Mir einen weitläufigeren Ort im Wasser, denn Ich habe bei dir Zuflucht genommen.“

Synonyms

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

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

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; 'this is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अलम्: sufficient
• अलम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose; sufficiency)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अलम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक (indeclinable meaning 'enough/sufficient')

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

• सुखम्: comfortable
• सुखम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• वस्तुम्: to live/stay
• वस्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; 'to dwell/stay'

• उदञ्चनम्: a water-pot
• उदञ्चनम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location; implied 'in the pot')
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पृथु: broad/spacious
• पृथु: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पदम्)

• देहि: give
• देहि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• पदम्: place
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यत्: which/that
• यत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of गता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• त्वा: you
• त्वा: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati-Karma (गति-कर्म/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; 'as refuge' (गत्यर्थे द्वितीया)

• गता: have gone/have resorted
• गता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (agreeing with speaker, feminine)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (Manu)
• Matsya (the fish)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter (śaraṇāgati) of a protector?

This verse expresses the mood of seeking refuge—approaching a capable protector and requesting proper shelter—foreshadowing the Bhagavatam’s broader teaching that sincere surrender invites divine protection.

Why did the fish speak like this to King Satyavrata (Manu)?

In the narrative, the fish—actually the Lord’s arrangement—asks for a safer, larger shelter, drawing the king into a relationship of protection and service that leads toward the Matsya-avatara’s revelation and the coming flood episode.

How can I apply this shloka’s teaching in modern life?

Recognize when limited supports are “not sufficient,” and consciously seek a steadier refuge—through prayer, disciplined spiritual practice, and taking guidance from genuine dharmic sources—rather than relying only on temporary comforts.