Shloka 61
Matsya-avatāra: The Lord as Fish Saves the Vedas and Guides Satyavrata
प्रलयपयसि धातु: सुप्तशक्तेर्मुखेभ्य: श्रुतिगणमपनीतं प्रत्युपादत्त हत्वा । दितिजमकथयद् यो ब्रह्म सत्यव्रतानां तमहमखिलहेतुं जिह्ममीनं नतोऽस्मि ॥ ६१ ॥ स वै मन: कृष्णपदारविन्दयो- र्वचांसि वैकुण्ठगुणानुवर्णने । करौ हरेर्मन्दिरमार्जनादिषु श्रुतिं चकाराच्युतसत्कथोदये ॥
pralaya-payasi dhātuḥ supta-śakter mukhebhyaḥ śruti-gaṇam apanītaṁ pratyupādatta hatvā ditijam akathayad yo brahma satyavratānāṁ tam aham akhila-hetuṁ jihma-mīnaṁ nato ’smi
Aku menunduk hormat kepada Tuhan Tertinggi yang berpura-pura menjadi ikan raksasa yang melengkung; Dia membunuh daitya lalu mengembalikan himpunan Śruti-Veda yang dirampas dari mulut Brahmā ketika Brahmā terjaga dari tidur dalam air pralaya; dan Dia menjelaskan inti Veda kepada Satyavrata serta para resi suci.
Here is a summary of Satyavrata’s meeting with the fish incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu. Lord Viṣṇu’s purpose was to take back all the Vedic literatures from the demon Hayagrīva and restore them to Lord Brahmā. Incidentally, by His causeless mercy, the Lord spoke with Satyavrata. The word satyavratānām is significant because it indicates that those on the level of Satyavrata can take knowledge from the Vedas delivered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whatever is spoken by the Supreme Lord is accepted as Veda. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā, vedānta-kṛd veda-vit: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the compiler of all Vedic knowledge, and He knows the purport of the Vedas. Therefore, anyone who takes knowledge from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, or from Bhagavad-gītā as it is, knows the purpose of the Vedas ( vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ ). One cannot understand Vedic knowledge from the veda-vāda-ratās, who read the Vedas and misconstrue their subject matter. One has to know the Vedas from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
In Canto 8, Chapter 24, the Lord as Matsya (the Fish incarnation) kills the Daitya who stole the Vedas and restores the śruti (Vedic revelations) back to Brahmā.
Because Matsya not only protected Satyavrata during the cosmic dissolution but also safeguarded the Vedas and instructed the king in brahma (divine truth).
The verse teaches that sacred knowledge can be lost in times of chaos, but sincere devotion and divine shelter restore clarity—so one should protect, study, and live by śāstra even amid upheaval.