Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

सोऽनुध्यातस्ततो राज्ञा प्रादुरासीन्महार्णवे । एकश‍ृङ्गधरो मत्स्यो हैमो नियुतयोजन: ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

so ’nudhyātas tato rājñā prādurāsīn mahārṇave eka-śṛṅga-dharo matsyo haimo niyuta-yojanaḥ

Translation

王が至上人格神を絶えず黙想していると、洪水の大海に巨大な黄金の魚が顕れた。一本の角を持ち、その長さはニユタ・ヨージャナに及んだ。

Synonyms

• सः: he/that one
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अनुध्यातः: having been contemplated
• अनुध्यातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-ध्यै (धातु) → अनुध्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having been meditated upon’

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• प्रादुरासीत्: appeared
• प्रादुरासीत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रादुर् (अव्यय) + अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; ‘appeared/was manifest’

• महा-अर्णवे: in the great ocean
• महा-अर्णवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘great ocean’

• एक-शृङ्ग-धरः: bearing a single horn
• एक-शृङ्ग-धरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘one-horn-bearing’

• मत्स्यः: a fish
• मत्स्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हैमः: golden
• हैमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘golden’

• नियुत-योजनः: measuring a niyuta yojanas
• नियुत-योजनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियुत (प्रातिपदिक) + योजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘(having) niyuta yojanas (in measure/extent)’

Characters & Entities

• Matsya (Lord Vishnu)
• Satyavrata (King)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya avatara appearing to a devotee?

This verse says that when the king meditated upon the Lord, the Lord manifested as Matsya in the great ocean—showing that sincere remembrance and devotion draw divine revelation and protection.

Why did Lord Matsya appear in the ocean to King Satyavrata?

In the narrative of Canto 8, Chapter 24, the Lord appears to guide and protect Satyavrata during the coming inundation (pralaya) and to arrange the safeguarding of life and sacred knowledge.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Cultivate steady remembrance (anusmaraṇa/meditation) of the Lord in crisis and calm alike; the Bhagavatam teaches that divine help comes to those who sincerely take shelter through devotion.