Shloka 1

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

Devanagari script

श्रीराजोवाच भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि हरेरद्भ‍ुतकर्मण: । अवतारकथामाद्यां मायामत्स्यविडम्बनम् ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-rājovāca bhagavañ chrotum icchāmi harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ avatāra-kathām ādyāṁ māyā-matsya-viḍambanam

Translation

ശ്രീരാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—ഭഗവൻ! ശ്രീഹരിയുടെ അത്ഭുതകർമ്മങ്ങളിൽ അവന്റെ ആദിയായ മത്സ്യാവതാരത്തിന്റെ മായാലീലാകഥ ഞാൻ ശ്രവിക്കുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു।

Synonyms

• śrī-rājā: the illustrious king
• śrī-rājā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī + rājā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; कर्मधारय: śrīmān rājā (the illustrious king)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Lit (लिट्/Perfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• bhagavan: O Lord
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to hear'

• icchāmi: I desire
• icchāmi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Lat (लट्/Present), Parasmaipada, 1st person (उत्तम-पुरुष), Singular

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular

• adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ: of wondrous deeds
• adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adbhuta + karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular; qualifying hareḥ

• avatāra-kathām: the story of the incarnation(s)
• avatāra-kathām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra + kathā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; तत्पुरुष: avatārasya/avatārāṇāṁ kathā

• ādyām: the first/primeval
• ādyām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; qualifying kathām

• māyā-matsya-viḍambanam: the illusory fish-disguise
• māyā-matsya-viḍambanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māyā + matsya + viḍambana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; multi-member determinative: māyayā matsya-viḍambanam / māyāyāḥ matsya-viḍambanam (the illusory fish-disguise)

Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-powerful, yet He accepted the form of an uncommon fish. This is one of the ten original incarnations of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Lord Vishnu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Matsya Avatar in Canto 8?

This verse introduces the topic: King Parikshit requests to hear the ancient narration of Hari’s Matsya incarnation and His wondrous divine pastime.

Why did King Parikshit ask to hear about Hari’s avatara-katha?

As a devoted listener, Parikshit seeks purification and realization by hearing the Lord’s marvelous deeds, beginning with the primeval Matsya incarnation described in this chapter.

Practical application of hearing avatara stories in modern life?

Regularly hearing and reflecting on the Lord’s divine acts strengthens faith, steadies the mind, and redirects attention from anxiety to devotion and dharma-centered living.