Shloka 5
Matsya-avatāra: The Lord as Fish Saves the Vedas and Guides Satyavrata
श्रीशुक उवाच गोविप्रसुरसाधूनां छन्दसामपि चेश्वर: । रक्षामिच्छंस्तनूर्धत्ते धर्मस्यार्थस्य चैव हि ॥ ५ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca go-vipra-sura-sādhūnāṁ chandasām api ceśvaraḥ rakṣām icchaṁs tanūr dhatte dharmasyārthasya caiva hi
Śrī Śukadeva sprach: O König, um Kühe, Brāhmaṇas, Devas, heilige Bhaktas, die Veden, das Dharma und die Grundsätze zur Erfüllung des Lebenszwecks zu schützen, nimmt Bhagavān verschiedene Avatāra-Gestalten an.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead generally appears in various types of incarnations to give protection to the cows and brāhmaṇas. The Lord is described as go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca; in other words, He is always eager to benefit the cows and brāhmaṇas. When Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared, He purposefully became a cowherd boy and showed personally how to give protection to the cows and calves. Similarly, He showed respect to Sudāmā Vipra, a real brāhmaṇa. From the Lord’s personal activities, human society should learn how to give protection specifically to the brāhmaṇas and cows. Then the protection of religious principles, fulfillment of the aim of life and protection of Vedic knowledge can be achieved. Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained; and without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled. The Lord, therefore, is described as go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya because His incarnation is only for the protection of the cows and brāhmaṇas. Unfortunately, because in Kali-yuga there is no protection of the cows and brahminical culture, everything is in a precarious position. If human society wants to be exalted, the leaders of society must follow the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā and give protection to the cows, the brāhmaṇas and brahminical culture.
FAQs
This verse says the Supreme Lord assumes a form to protect the saintly, the demigods, cows and brāhmaṇas, and to safeguard dharma and true welfare (artha).
Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking, narrating the Lord’s purpose in manifesting an incarnation (in this chapter, the Matsya avatāra context).
Support truthful living, protect sacred knowledge and saintly values, and align daily choices with dharma—seeing divine protection as linked to preserving spiritual culture and integrity.