Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 56

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

Devanagari script

अश्रौषीद‍ृषिभि: साकमात्मतत्त्वमसंशयम् । नाव्यासीनो भगवता प्रोक्तं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥ ५६ ॥

Transliteration

aśrauṣīd ṛṣibhiḥ sākam ātma-tattvam asaṁśayam nāvy āsīno bhagavatā proktaṁ brahma sanātanam

Translation

Assis dans la barque, le roi Satyavrata, accompagné des grands sages, entendit du Bhagavān l’enseignement sur la réalisation du Soi et le brahma éternel des écrits védiques; ainsi, nul doute ne subsista sur la Vérité Absolue.

Synonyms

• aśrauṣīt: heard
• aśrauṣīt: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ṛṣibhiḥ: with/by the sages
• ṛṣibhiḥ: Sahakari/Karana (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• sākam: together with
• sākam: Saha (सह)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक-निपात (adverb/preposition: ‘together with’)

• ātma-tattvam: the truth of the self
• ātma-tattvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma-tattva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ātman + tattva)

• asaṁśayam: without doubt
• asaṁśayam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: a-saṁśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग; नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (adverbial accusative: ‘without doubt’)

• nau: in the boat
• nau: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nau (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; वैदिक/काव्य-रूप ‘नौ’ = ‘नावि/नाव्याम्’ (in/on the boat)

• āsīnaḥ: seated
• āsīnaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āsīna (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √ās)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त/निष्ठा-प्रत्यय (past participle: ‘seated’)

• bhagavatā: by the Lord
• bhagavatā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• proktam: taught
• proktam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; pra-√vac)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle: ‘spoken/taught’)

• brahma: Brahman (the Absolute)
• brahma: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• sanātanam: eternal
• sanātanam: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying brahma)

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Ṛṣis
• Bhagavān (Matsya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about ātma-tattva (self-realization) in the Matsya Avatara episode?

In this verse, Manu—seated in the boat with the sages—hears from the Lord the doubtless truth of the self, as the Lord teaches the eternal Brahman even amid cosmic dissolution.

Why did the Lord (Matsya) teach Manu and the sages while they were in the boat?

During pralaya, the Lord protects Manu and the sages and uses that sacred setting to transmit timeless spiritual knowledge—ātma-tattva and sanātana-brahma—so dharma and realization continue beyond the catastrophe.

Practical application of ‘hearing’ (śravaṇa) about Brahman in modern life?

Like Manu, one can prioritize śravaṇa—regularly hearing authentic scripture from realized teachers—to gain clarity and steadiness, especially during personal “pralaya” moments of upheaval.