Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

त्वं तावदोषधी: सर्वा बीजान्युच्चावचानि च । सप्तर्षिभि: परिवृत: सर्वसत्त्वोपबृंहित: ॥ ३४ ॥ आरुह्य बृहतीं नावं विचरिष्यस्यविक्लव: । एकार्णवे निरालोके ऋषीणामेव वर्चसा ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tvaṁ tāvad oṣadhīḥ sarvā bījāny uccāvacāni ca saptarṣibhiḥ parivṛtaḥ sarva-sattvopabṛṁhitaḥ

Translation

Wenn du jenes große Boot besteigst, zusammen mit den sieben ṛṣis und allen Wesen, wirst du furchtlos reisen. Selbst in der dichten Finsternis des einen Ozeans der Pralaya wird dein Weg allein vom Glanz der großen ṛṣis erhellt.

Synonyms

• आरुह्य: having boarded; having climbed
• आरुह्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ√रुह् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund, ‘having climbed’); क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial to main verb)

• बृहतीम्: great; large
• बृहतीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); नावम् इति विशेष्ये

• नावम्: boat
• नावम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• विचरिष्यसि: you will roam/travel
• विचरिष्यसि: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि√चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• अविक्लवः: unagitated; fearless
• अविक्लवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + विक्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समासार्थक-उपसर्ग (negation ‘a-’); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘त्वम्’ (implicit) इति विशेष्ये

• एकार्णवे: in the single ocean (cosmic flood)
• एकार्णवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘एकः अर्णवः’ इति कर्मधारयः

• निरालोके: in the lightless/dark (ocean)
• निरालोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + आलोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; एकार्णवे इति विशेष्ये (locative agreement)

• ऋषीणाम्: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), बहुवचन (Plural)

• एव: indeed; only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• वर्चसा: by the splendor/power
• वर्चसा: Karana (करण/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Matsya (Śrī Hari)
• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Saptarṣi (Seven Sages)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about protection during pralaya (cosmic dissolution)?

In this verse, the Lord (as Matsya) assures Manu that by boarding the great boat with the sages, seeds, herbs, and living beings, he will safely traverse the dark ocean of dissolution by the sages’ spiritual potency and the Lord’s arrangement.

Why does Matsya instruct Manu to collect seeds and herbs?

Seeds and medicinal plants are preserved so life and dharma-based civilization can be restored after the flood; Manu becomes the caretaker of continuity for the next cycle of creation.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Prepare with faith and responsibility: preserve what sustains life and virtue (knowledge, essentials, good habits) and stay guided by saintly counsel—then fear reduces even in “dark” uncertain times.