Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इत्युक्तवन्तं नृपतिं भगवानादिपूरुष: । मत्स्यरूपी महाम्भोधौ विहरंस्तत्त्वमब्रवीत् ॥ ५४ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca ity uktavantaṁ nṛpatiṁ bhagavān ādi-pūruṣaḥ matsya-rūpī mahāmbhodhau viharaṁs tattvam abravīt

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva said: When King Satyavrata had thus prayed to the Supreme Lord, the Ādipuruṣa in the form of a fish, the Lord, moving through the waters of the inundation, revealed to him the Absolute Truth.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/वक्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (śrī + śuka)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः, अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचक (quotative particle)

• uktavantam: the one who had spoken
• uktavantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ukta-vat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √vac)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle: ‘having said’)

• nṛpatim: the king
• nṛpatim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ādi-pūruṣaḥ: the primeval person
• ādi-pūruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi-pūruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ādi + pūruṣa = ‘primeval person’)

• matsya-rūpī: in the form of a fish
• matsya-rūpī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matsya-rūpin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (matsya + rūpin = ‘having fish-form’)

• mahāmbhodhau: in the great ocean
• mahāmbhodhau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā-ambhodhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (mahā + ambhodhi)

• viharan: sporting/moving about
• viharan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपद-प्रयोग

• tattvam: the truth/principle
• tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• abravīt: told/said
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Satyavrata (King Manu)
• Bhagavān (Matsya-avatāra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya Avatar in Canto 8?

In Canto 8, Chapter 24, the Lord appears as Matsya (a divine fish) in the great ocean and begins instructing King Satyavrata, revealing essential spiritual truth while preparing to protect him during the coming deluge.

Why did Matsya (the Lord) speak to King Satyavrata (Manu)?

Because the king addressed the Lord with sincere inquiry; in response, the Lord—sporting as Matsya—accepted him as a recipient of divine instruction and began revealing tattva (essential truth) within the unfolding narrative of protection.

Practical application of “tattva” (essential truth) in modern life?

Approach sacred knowledge with humility and genuine questions; when guidance comes (through scripture and realized teachers), receive it as life-directing truth and align daily choices with dharma and devotion.