Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त: सोऽनयन्मत्स्यं तत्र तत्राविदासिनि । जलाशयेऽसम्मितं तं समुद्रे प्राक्षिपज्झषम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

ity uktaḥ so ’nayan matsyaṁ tatra tatrāvidāsini jalāśaye ’sammitaṁ taṁ samudre prākṣipaj jhaṣam

Translation

Thus requested, King Satyavrata carried the fish from one vast reservoir to another. When even that proved insufficient, he finally cast the gigantic fish into the ocean.

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been told
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; 'he, being told')
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'having been told/addressed'

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अनयत्: led/took
• अनयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मत्स्यम्: the fish
• मत्स्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• तत्र: in various places
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्त-देशवाचक (reduplicated adverb: 'here and there')

• अविदासिनि: O ignorant one
• अविदासिनि: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविदासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; विशेषण (addressing the king)

• जलाशये: in a water-reservoir
• जलाशये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + आशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समास: जले आशयः यस्मिन् = 'in a water-reservoir'

• असम्मितम्: immeasurable
• असम्मितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (नञ्) + सम्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकार-प्रत्यय: 'immeasurable/unsized' (qualifying मत्स्यम्/तम्)

• तम्: that (one)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (referring to the fish)

• समुद्रे: in the ocean
• समुद्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• प्राक्षिपत्: threw/cast
• प्राक्षिपत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• झषम्: the fish
• झषम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; appositive to तम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: झष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'fish' (synonym)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Matsya (the Supreme Lord’s fish incarnation)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Matsya avatara growing beyond measure?

This verse describes the fish becoming immeasurably large in every water reservoir, indicating the divine, unlimited nature of the Lord’s Matsya form.

Why did Satyavrata Manu place the fish into the ocean?

Because the fish outgrew each smaller water source, Manu moved it repeatedly until only the ocean could accommodate its vast size.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

Serve and protect what is entrusted to you with faith and responsibility; sincere care for the Lord’s purposes is guided step by step toward a greater divine plan.