Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

रम्यके च भगवत: प्रियतमं मात्स्यमवताररूपं तद्वर्षपुरुषस्य मनो: प्राक्प्रदर्शितं स इदानीमपि महता भक्तियोगेनाराधयतीदं चोदाहरति ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ramyake ca bhagavataḥ priyatamaṁ mātsyam avatāra-rūpaṁ tad-varṣa-puruṣasya manoḥ prāk-pradarśitaṁ sa idānīm api mahatā bhakti-yogenārādhayatīdaṁ codāharati.

Translation

Dans le Ramyaka-varṣa, où règne Vaivasvata Manu, la Personnalité Suprême de Dieu se manifesta sous la forme très aimée de Matsyāvatāra à la fin de l’ère précédente, c’est-à-dire au terme du Cākṣuṣa-manvantara, et montra alors cette forme à Manu, le souverain de ce varṣa. Aujourd’hui encore, Vaivasvata Manu adore le Seigneur Matsya par le grand bhakti-yoga et récite le mantra suivant.

Synonyms

• ramyake: in Ramyaka (varṣa)
• ramyake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular (एकवचन); place-name

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन)

• priyatamam: most dear
• priyatamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyatama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense; qualifies mātsyam (rūpam)

• mātsyam: fish (as)
• mātsyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mātsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); 'fish-related'

• avatāra-rūpam: incarnation-form
• avatāra-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'form of an incarnation'

• tad-varṣa-puruṣasya: of the presiding person of that region
• tad-varṣa-puruṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'of that varṣa's person (presiding man)'

• manoḥ: of Manu
• manoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāk: formerly/before
• prāk: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• pradarśitam: shown/revealed
• pradarśitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + dṛś (दृश्, धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ta); Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies avatāra-rūpam

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1st), Singular (एकवचन)

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• mahatā: by great
• mahatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3rd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies bhakti-yogena (instrumental of means)

• bhakti-yogena: by devotion-yoga
• bhakti-yogena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3rd), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'yoga of devotion'

• ārādhayati: worships
• ārādhayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + rādh (राध्, धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this (hymn/statement)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• udāharati: recites/utters
• udāharati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + ā + hṛ (हृ, धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān Matsya
• Manu (presiding Manu of Ramyaka-varṣa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya Avatar in Canto 5?

This verse states that in Ramyaka-varṣa the Lord’s most beloved form is Matsya, previously revealed to the presiding Manu, who even now worships Him through great bhakti-yoga and offers prayers.

Why is Manu mentioned in the description of Jambūdvīpa varṣas?

Śukadeva explains that each varṣa has a presiding authority; here, the Manu of Ramyaka-varṣa is highlighted because the Lord’s Matsya form was revealed to him and he continues to worship the Lord devotionally.

How can bhakti-yoga from this verse be applied in modern life?

Like Manu, one can practice steady devotion by choosing a cherished form of the Lord, worshiping consistently, and reciting prayers that remember the Lord’s mercy and pastimes.