Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

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

Transliteration

namas te puruṣa-śreṣṭha sthity-utpatty-apyayeśvara bhaktānāṁ naḥ prapannānāṁ mukhyo hy ātma-gatir vibho

Translation

Ehrerbietige Verneigung vor Dir, o Höchster unter den Puruṣas, Herr über Schöpfung, Erhaltung und Auflösung. O allmächtiger Viṣṇu, Du bist Führer und höchstes Ziel für uns hingegebene Bhaktas.

Synonyms

• नमः: salutations
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत/निपातवत् प्रयोग; नमस्कारार्थक (salutation particle)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; ‘to you’

• पुरुष-श्रेष्ठ: O best of persons
• पुरुष-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: ‘best of men/persons’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• स्थिति-उत्पत्ति-अप्यय-ईश्वर: O Lord of sustenance, creation, and dissolution
• स्थिति-उत्पत्ति-अप्यय-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अप्यय (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (सम्बन्ध: ‘lord of maintenance, creation, and dissolution’); पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• भक्तानाम्: of devotees
• भक्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of devotees’

• नः: of us
• नः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; enclitic ‘of us/our’

• प्रपन्नानाम्: of the surrendered
• प्रपन्नानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + पद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), बहुवचन; ‘of those who have surrendered/taken refuge’

• मुख्यः: the chief
• मुख्यः: Pradhana (प्रधान/विशेष्य-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate adjective ‘chief/primary’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (indeed/for)

• आत्म-गतिः: the ultimate refuge
• आत्म-गतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: ‘the soul’s goal/one’s ultimate refuge’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विभो: O Lord
• विभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; ‘O all-pervading Lord’

Characters & Entities

• Matsya
• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about surrender (śaraṇāgati) to Vishnu?

This verse declares that for surrendered devotees (prapannānām), the Lord Himself is the highest refuge and ultimate destination (mukhyo hy ātma-gatiḥ).

Why does Satyavrata address the Lord as the controller of creation, maintenance, and dissolution?

In his prayer to Lord Matsya, Satyavrata acknowledges the Lord’s supreme lordship over all cosmic functions—creation, preservation, and annihilation—showing that the avatāra is the same Supreme Controller.

How can this verse be applied in modern life?

It teaches devotional priority: instead of seeking ultimate security in temporary supports, one can practice surrender through prayer, remembrance, and aligning decisions with devotion, seeing God as the final shelter.