Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

पुराणसंहितां दिव्यां साङ्ख्ययोगक्रियावतीम् । सत्यव्रतस्य राजर्षेरात्मगुह्यमशेषत: ॥ ५५ ॥

Transliteration

purāṇa-saṁhitāṁ divyāṁ sāṅkhya-yoga-kriyāvatīm satyavratasya rājarṣer ātma-guhyam aśeṣataḥ

Translation

ഭഗവാൻ രാജർഷി സത്യവ്രതനോട് ദിവ്യമായ പുരാണസംഹിതയും സാംഖ്യയോഗക്രിയകളും ഉൾപ്പെട്ട ആത്മഗുഹ്യജ്ഞാനവും സമ്പൂർണ്ണമായി വിശദീകരിച്ചു; ആ ശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിൽ സ്വയം തന്നെ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തുകയും ചെയ്തു।

Synonyms

• purāṇa-saṁhitām: the Purāṇic compendium
• purāṇa-saṁhitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: purāṇa-saṁhitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (purāṇa + saṁhitā = ‘Purāṇa-compilation’)

• divyām: divine
• divyām: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying purāṇa-saṁhitām)

• sāṅkhya-yoga-kriyāvatīm: endowed with Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and practices
• sāṅkhya-yoga-kriyāvatīm: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sāṅkhya-yoga-kriyā-vatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (sāṅkhya + yoga + kriyā + vatī = ‘endowed with Sāṅkhya, Yoga, and ritual action’)

• satyavratasya: of Satyavrata
• satyavratasya: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satyavrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (satya + vrata = ‘one whose vow is truth’)

• rājarṣeḥ: of the royal sage
• rājarṣeḥ: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājarṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (rāja + ṛṣi = ‘royal sage’)

• ātma-guhyam: the secret of the self
• ātma-guhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātma-guhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ātman + guhya = ‘secret of the self’)

• aśeṣataḥ: entirely
• aśeṣataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/परिमाण-वाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: ‘completely, without remainder’)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (King Satyavrata/Vaivasvata Manu)
• Matsya (the Supreme Lord’s Fish incarnation)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.55 say about Sankhya and yoga?

It states that the divine Purāṇic teaching given to Satyavrata was filled with Sāṅkhya (spiritual analysis), yoga (discipline of realization), and kriyā (right action), presenting a complete path to understand the self.

Why did Matsya instruct King Satyavrata during the flood narrative?

In the Matsya-avatāra episode, the Lord protects Satyavrata and simultaneously transmits Purāṇic wisdom, making the crisis of the flood a setting for receiving profound spiritual instruction.

How can 'ātma-guhya' (confidential self-knowledge) be applied in modern life?

By combining discernment (Sāṅkhya), steady practice (yoga), and purified daily duties (kriyā), one learns to act without losing inner spiritual identity—turning life into a disciplined pursuit of self-realization and devotion.