Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 10

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

Devanagari script

तत्र राजऋषि: कश्चिन्नाम्ना सत्यव्रतो महान् । नारायणपरोऽतपत् तप: स सलिलाशन: ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

tatra rāja-ṛṣiḥ kaścin nāmnā satyavrato mahān nārāyaṇa-paro ’tapat tapaḥ sa salilāśanaḥ

Translation

ചാക്ഷുഷ-മന്വന്തരത്തിൽ സത്യവ്രതൻ എന്ന മഹാനായ രാജർഷി ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അദ്ദേഹം നാരായണപരനായ ഭക്തൻ; ജലം മാത്രമാഹാരമാക്കി തപസ്സു ചെയ്തു।

Synonyms

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: स्थानवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place)

• राजऋषिः: a royal sage
• राजऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय: राजा चासौ ऋषिः

• कश्चित्: someone/a certain
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by name’ (नाम्ना)

• सत्यव्रतः: Satyavrata
• सत्यव्रतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: सत्यं व्रतम् यस्य (name)

• महान्: great
• महान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; विशेषण of सत्यव्रतः

• नारायणपरः: devoted to Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणपरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारायण + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: नारायणः परः यस्य/यः (devoted to Nārāyaṇa)

• अतपत्: performed austerity
• अतपत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of अतपत्

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

• सलिलाशनः: living on water
• सलिलाशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल + अशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: सलिलम् अशनम् यस्य (one whose food is water)

Purport

The Lord assumed one fish incarnation to save the Vedas at the beginning of the Svāyambhuva-manvantara, and at the end of the Cākṣuṣa-manvantara the Lord again assumed the form of a fish just to favor the great king named Satyavrata. As there were two incarnations of Varāha, there were also two incarnations of fish. The Lord appeared as one fish incarnation to save the Vedas by killing Hayagrīva, and He assumed the other fish incarnation to show favor to King Satyavrata.

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata
• Nārāyaṇa

FAQs

Who is Satyavrata in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 24?

Satyavrata is described here as a great rājarṣi (royal sage) who was exclusively devoted to Nārāyaṇa and engaged in intense austerities, living only on water.

What does 'Nārāyaṇa-paraḥ' mean in the Bhagavata Purana?

It means being wholly dedicated to Nārāyaṇa—making the Lord one’s supreme goal and shelter, above all other aims.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches steadiness and simplicity: adopt regulated self-discipline (tapasya) and keep devotion to the Lord as the central priority, even while living in the world.