Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 13

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

Devanagari script

सत्यव्रतोऽञ्जलिगतां सह तोयेन भारत । उत्ससर्ज नदीतोये शफरीं द्रविडेश्वर: ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

satyavrato ’ñjali-gatāṁ saha toyena bhārata utsasarja nadī-toye śapharīṁ draviḍeśvaraḥ

Translation

हे भारतवंशी परीक्षित! द्रविडदेशाचा राजा सत्यव्रत याने अंजलीत आलेली ती मासळी हातातील पाण्यासह नदीच्या पाण्यात सोडून दिली।

Synonyms

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

• अञ्जलिगताम्: (the fish) that had come into (his) palms
• अञ्जलिगताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जलि + गत (प्रातिपदिक; √गम् + क्त)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष: अञ्जलौ गता (gone into the palms); qualifies शफरीम् (understood)

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: सहकारक अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• तोयेन: with water
• तोयेन: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; सह-योगे तृतीया

• भारत: O Bhārata
• भारत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• उत्ससर्ज: released/let go
• उत्ससर्ज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: उत्

• नदीतोये: in the river water
• नदीतोये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी + तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष: नद्याः तोये

• शफरीम्: the śapharī fish
• शफरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शफरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• द्रविडेश्वरः: the lord of Draviḍa (king)
• द्रविडेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रविड + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: द्रविडानाम् ईश्वरः (epithet of the king)

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata
• Parīkṣit (Bhārata)
• Matsya (the fish, implied)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Satyavrata releasing the fish into the river?

This verse states that King Satyavrata, finding a small fish in his cupped hands along with water, compassionately released it into the river—setting the stage for the Lord’s Matsya-līlā.

Why did Satyavrata put the fish into the river in the Matsya avatara story?

Satyavrata acted with dharma and kindness: rather than harming or neglecting the tiny fish, he protected it by returning it to a suitable habitat, and this righteous act becomes the doorway for divine revelation.

Practical application of compassion (dayā) from this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Practice non-cruelty and responsible care for vulnerable beings—small acts of protection and empathy, done with integrity, cultivate a devotional character that attracts higher guidance.