Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

स एनां तत आदाय न्यधादौदञ्चनोदके । तत्र क्षिप्ता मुहूर्तेन हस्तत्रयमवर्धत ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

sa enāṁ tata ādāya nyadhād audañcanodake tatra kṣiptā muhūrtena hasta-trayam avardhata

Translation

അപ്പോൾ രാജാവ് ആ മത്സ്യത്തെ കുടത്തിലെ വെള്ളത്തിൽ നിന്ന് എടുത്ത് വലിയ കിണറ്റിൽ ഇട്ടു. എന്നാൽ ഒരു നിമിഷംകൊണ്ട് അത് മൂന്നു മുഴം നീളമായി വളർന്നു.

Synonyms

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

• एनाम्: her/this (female)
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having taken'

• न्यधात्: placed/put
• न्यधात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• औदञ्चन-उदके: in the pot-water
• औदञ्चन-उदके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औदञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): औदञ्चनस्य उदके = 'in the water of the pot'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• क्षिप्ता: (she) having been thrown/placed
• क्षिप्ता: Karma (कर्म/Object; 'she/it being thrown')
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक (PPP)

• मुहूर्तेन: within a moment
• मुहूर्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; time-measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हस्त-त्रयम्: three hand-spans
• हस्त-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; measure attained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical): त्रयो हस्ताः = 'three hands (in length)'

• अवर्धत: grew
• अवर्धत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Matsya (the fish incarnation of the Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya avatara growing in size?

In Bhagavatam 8.24.19, the fish placed by King Satyavrata into a water-pot expands rapidly—within a moment becoming three hands long—revealing a supernatural, divine nature.

Why did Satyavrata place the fish into a water pot?

Out of compassion and protection, Satyavrata took the small fish he had found and placed it in a vessel of water—an act that becomes the beginning of the Matsya-avatāra revelation.

Practical application of this Matsya avatara verse in modern life?

Small acts of mercy and responsibility can open the door to transformative spiritual experiences; what seems insignificant may carry divine purpose beyond our immediate understanding.