Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति ब्रुवाणं नृपतिं जगत्पति: सत्यव्रतं मत्स्यवपुर्युगक्षये । विहर्तुकाम: प्रलयार्णवेऽब्रवी- च्चिकीर्षुरेकान्तजनप्रिय: प्रियम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti bruvāṇaṁ nṛpatiṁ jagat-patiḥ satyavrataṁ matsya-vapur yuga-kṣaye vihartu-kāmaḥ pralayārṇave ’bravīc cikīrṣur ekānta-jana-priyaḥ priyam

Translation

श्रीशुकदेव गोस्वामी बोले—जब राजा सत्यव्रत ने इस प्रकार कहा, तब जगत्पति भगवान, जो युगान्त में मत्स्य-रूप धारण कर प्रलय-समुद्र में लीला करना और अपने एकान्त भक्त का हित करना चाहते थे, उन्होंने प्रिय वचन कहा।

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; honorific karmadhāraya

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotation marker

• bruvāṇam: speaking
• bruvāṇam: Karma (object) of abravīt (understood)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (present active participle/शतृ), Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana

• nṛpatim: the king
• nṛpatim: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana

• jagat-patiḥ: Lord of the universe
• jagat-patiḥ: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: jagataḥ patiḥ

• satyavratam: Satyavrata
• satyavratam: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satyavrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; proper name

• matsya-vapuḥ: (in) fish-form
• matsya-vapuḥ: Apposition to jagat-patiḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक) + vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: matsya-rūpaṃ vapuḥ

• yuga-kṣaye: at the end of the age
• yuga-kṣaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) / time-location
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: yugasya kṣaye

• vihartu-kāmaḥ: desiring to play
• vihartu-kāmaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-hṛ (धातु) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tumun + kāma (desiderative adjective): ‘wishing to sport’; Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with jagat-patiḥ

• pralaya-arṇave: in the ocean of dissolution
• pralaya-arṇave: Adhikaraṇa (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (Loc.), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: pralayasya arṇave

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ lakāra (Aorist), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• cikīrṣuḥ: intending to do
• cikīrṣuḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative participle (sananta) ‘cikīrṣu’ (wanting to do), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with jagat-patiḥ

• ekānta-jana-priyaḥ: dear to his exclusive devotees
• ekānta-jana-priyaḥ: Apposition/epithet of jagat-patiḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ekāntajanānāṁ priyaḥ

• priyam: a pleasing (word)
• priyam: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; object of abravīt

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Matsya (the Supreme Lord as Fish Avatar)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord being affectionate to exclusive devotees (ekānta-bhaktas)?

This verse states that the Lord is ekānta-jana-priya—especially dear to and affectionate toward those who worship Him with one-pointed devotion—and He responds to them with pleasing, personal guidance.

Why did Matsya (the Lord) speak to King Satyavrata at the end of the age (yuga-kṣaye)?

Because a cosmic dissolution (pralaya) was imminent, the Lord, appearing as Matsya, intended to perform His saving pastime and therefore addressed Satyavrata with reassuring and auspicious instructions.

How can I apply the teaching of ‘ekānta devotion’ in modern life?

Practice steady, focused devotion—regular hearing/chanting, sincere prayer, and aligning daily choices with dharma—trusting that the Lord guides and protects those who remain one-pointed in bhakti.