Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

आस्तीर्य दर्भान् प्राक्कूलान् राजर्षि: प्रागुदङ्‌मुख: । निषसाद हरे: पादौ चिन्तयन् मत्स्यरूपिण: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

āstīrya darbhān prāk-kūlān rājarṣiḥ prāg-udaṅ-mukhaḥ niṣasāda hareḥ pādau cintayan matsya-rūpiṇaḥ

Translation

Après avoir étendu l’herbe kuśa, ses pointes tournées vers l’est, le roi-sage, faisant face au nord-est, s’assit dessus. Il médita sur les pieds du Seigneur Hari (Viṣṇu) ayant pris la forme de Poisson.

Synonyms

• आस्तीर्य: having spread
• आस्तीर्य: Kriyā (अनुबन्ध/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√स्तॄ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• दर्भान्: kuśa-grass blades
• दर्भान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन

• प्राक्कूलान्: with tips/banks to the east (eastward)
• प्राक्कूलान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राक् + कूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (of ‘दर्भान्’); समासः—दिशा-तत्पुरुष (east-facing banks/edges)

• राजर्षिः: the royal sage (king)
• राजर्षिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (a royal sage)

• प्रागुदङ्मुखः: facing east-north (northeast-facing)
• प्रागुदङ्मुखः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राक् + उदङ् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (whose face is towards east and north; i.e., facing northeast)

• निषसाद: sat down
• निषसाद: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि√सद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• पादौ: (his) two feet
• पादौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), द्विवचन

• चिन्तयन्: meditating on, thinking of
• चिन्तयन्: Kriyā (सहायक/समकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समकालिक क्रिया

• मत्स्यरूपिणः: of the one in fish form (Matsya)
• मत्स्यरूपिणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (one having fish-form)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Hari (Matsya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about meditating on Hari’s lotus feet in the Matsya avatara story?

This verse shows King Satyavrata (later Vaivasvata Manu) preparing a sacred seat with kuśa grass and then focusing his mind on the lotus feet of Hari as Matsya—illustrating devotion as the central refuge even before the cosmic flood.

Why did Satyavrata Manu sit facing east and north while worshiping Matsya?

The verse describes a traditional Vedic posture of reverence and ritual alignment—east and north are auspicious directions—while the deeper point is that his attention is fixed on Hari’s feet, indicating disciplined, focused bhakti.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life for spiritual focus?

Create a simple, consistent space and posture for prayer or japa, and then place the mind on the Lord’s feet (remembrance of God). The outer order supports inner steadiness, especially during uncertainty.