Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

कालेनागतनिद्रस्य धातु: शिशयिषोर्बली । मुखतो नि:सृतान् वेदान् हयग्रीवोऽन्तिकेऽहरत् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

kālenāgata-nidrasya dhātuḥ śiśayiṣor balī mukhato niḥsṛtān vedān hayagrīvo ’ntike ’harat

Translation

Quand le temps fut venu et que Dhātā (Brahmā) fut gagné par le sommeil et voulut s’étendre, les Vedas émanant de sa bouche furent dérobés par le puissant démon nommé Hayagrīva, tout proche.

Synonyms

• kālena: by time
• kālena: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā vibhakti (Instrumental/3rd), Ekavacana; hetu/nimitta sense ‘by/with time’

• āgata-nidrasya: of (him) whose sleep had come
• āgata-nidrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgata + nidrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti (Genitive/6th), Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi-like sense ‘whose sleep has come’ used as qualifier of dhātuḥ

• dhātuḥ: of Brahmā (the creator)
• dhātuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana; here ‘of the creator/elemental source (Brahmā)’

• śiśayiṣoḥ: of (him) wishing to sleep
• śiśayiṣoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiśayiṣu (प्रातिपदिक; from desiderative of √śī)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī vibhakti, Ekavacana; ‘of (him) desiring to sleep’

• balī: powerful
• balī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative/1st), Ekavacana; agrees with hayagrīvaḥ; ‘powerful’

• mukhataḥ: from the mouth
• mukhataḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; ablatival adverb in -tas (तसिल्) meaning ‘from the mouth’

• niḥsṛtān: that had come forth
• niḥsṛtān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: niḥ-sṛ (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kta-pratyaya past passive participle; Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti (Accusative/2nd), Bahuvacana; agrees with vedān

• vedān: the Vedas
• vedān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā vibhakti, Bahuvacana

• hayagrīvaḥ: Hayagrīva
• hayagrīvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haya-grīva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; bahuvrīhi ‘one whose neck is a horse (horse-necked)’

• antike: nearby
• antike: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka-liṅga, Saptamī vibhakti (Locative/7th), Ekavacana; ‘near (him)’

• aharat: stole, carried off
• aharat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: hṛ (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/past), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Hayagrīva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Hayagriva stealing the Vedas?

This verse states that when Brahmā became drowsy, the powerful demon Hayagrīva approached and stole the Vedas that had slipped from Brahmā’s mouth.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the Vedas being taken from Brahmā’s mouth?

To show how Vedic knowledge can be threatened when cosmic administration becomes vulnerable, setting the stage for the Lord’s avatāra to restore and protect dharma.

Practical application of protecting sacred knowledge in modern life?

Guard your spiritual practice from negligence—regular study, disciplined habits, and devotion help preserve wisdom from being “stolen” by distraction and forgetfulness.