Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

सत्यव्रतोऽञ्जलिगतां सह तोयेन भारत । उत्ससर्ज नदीतोये शफरीं द्रविडेश्वर: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

satyavrato ’ñjali-gatāṁ saha toyena bhārata utsasarja nadī-toye śapharīṁ draviḍeśvaraḥ

Translation

¡Oh Parīkṣit, descendiente de Bharata! Satyavrata, rey de Draviḍadeśa, arrojó al agua del río el pececillo que tenía en sus manos, junto con el agua que sostenía.

Synonyms

• सत्यव्रतः: Satyavrata
• सत्यव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• अञ्जलिगताम्: (the fish) that had come into (his) palms
• अञ्जलिगताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जलि + गत (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् + क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: अञ्जलौ गता (gone into the palms); qualifies शफरीम् (understood)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारक अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• तोयेन: with water
• तोयेन: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; सह-योगे तृतीया

• भारत: O Bhārata
• भारत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• उत्ससर्ज: released/let go
• उत्ससर्ज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: उत्

• नदीतोये: in the river water
• नदीतोये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष: नद्याः तोये

• शफरीम्: the śapharī fish
• शफरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शफरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• द्रविडेश्वरः: the lord of Draviḍa (king)
• द्रविडेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रविड + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: द्रविडानाम् ईश्वरः (epithet of the king)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata
• Parīkṣit (Bhārata)
• Matsya (the fish, implied)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Satyavrata releasing the fish into the river?

This verse states that King Satyavrata, finding a small fish in his cupped hands along with water, compassionately released it into the river—setting the stage for the Lord’s Matsya-līlā.

Why did Satyavrata put the fish into the river in the Matsya avatara story?

Satyavrata acted with dharma and kindness: rather than harming or neglecting the tiny fish, he protected it by returning it to a suitable habitat, and this righteous act becomes the doorway for divine revelation.

Practical application of compassion (dayā) from this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Practice non-cruelty and responsible care for vulnerable beings—small acts of protection and empathy, done with integrity, cultivate a devotional character that attracts higher guidance.