Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 25

Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha

Devanagari script

ॐ नमो भगवते मुख्यतमाय नम: सत्त्वाय प्राणायौजसे सहसे बलाय महामत्स्याय नम इति ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

oṁ namo bhagavate mukhyatamāya namaḥ sattvāya prāṇāyaujase sahase balāya mahā-matsyāya nama iti.

Translation

Om. I offer my obeisances to Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is pure transcendence—the source of life, bodily strength, mental power, valor, and all capacity. Obeisances to Mahāmatsya, the gigantic fish incarnation, first manifested among the avatāras; again and again I bow to Him.

Synonyms

• oṁ: Om
• oṁ: Maṅgala (मङ्गल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṁ (अव्यय)
• Form: Sacred syllable (प्रणव)

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya used as salutation; governs dative (चतुर्थी)

• bhagavate: to the Lord
• bhagavate: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन)

• mukhyatamāya: to the most eminent
• mukhyatamāya: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhyatama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन); superlative

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Salutation particle; governs dative

• sattvāya: to (the embodiment of) goodness/existence
• sattvāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāṇāya: to life-breath
• prāṇāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन)

• aujase: to vigor
• aujase: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ojas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन)

• sahase: to might/force
• sahase: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन)

• balāya: to strength
• balāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahā-matsyāya: to the Great Fish (Matsya)
• mahā-matsyāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + matsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (चतुर्थी/4th), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: 'great fish'

• namaḥ: salutation
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Salutation particle; governs dative

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyānta-sūcaka (वाक्यान्तसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

Purport

Śrīla Jayadeva Gosvāmī sings:

Characters & Entities

• Mahā-matsya (Matsya avatāra)
• Bhagavān (Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about praying to Matsya (the Fish incarnation)?

This verse offers direct obeisances to Mahā-matsya, honoring the Lord as the supreme protector and the source of vitality, strength, and power.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 5.18.25 and in what context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates prayers offered in Jambūdvīpa; here the worshipers glorify the Lord as the foremost reality and specifically salute His Matsya avatāra.

Practical application of seeing God as prāṇa (life-breath) and bala (strength) in modern life?

Remembering the Lord as the inner life-force encourages humility, steadiness, and reliance on divine support—channeling one’s energy toward dharma, self-control, and devotion.