Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 24

Varṣa-devatā Worship in Jambūdvīpa: Hayagrīva/Hayaśīrṣa, Nṛsiṁha, Kāmadeva (Pradyumna), Matsya, Kūrma, and Varāha

Devanagari script

रम्यके च भगवत: प्रियतमं मात्स्यमवताररूपं तद्वर्षपुरुषस्य मनो: प्राक्प्रदर्शितं स इदानीमपि महता भक्तियोगेनाराधयतीदं चोदाहरति ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

ramyake ca bhagavataḥ priyatamaṁ mātsyam avatāra-rūpaṁ tad-varṣa-puruṣasya manoḥ prāk-pradarśitaṁ sa idānīm api mahatā bhakti-yogenārādhayatīdaṁ codāharati.

Translation

ରମ୍ୟକ-ବର୍ଷରେ, ଯେଉଁଠାରେ ବୈବସ୍ୱତ ମନୁ ଶାସନ କରନ୍ତି, ଭଗବାନଙ୍କ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରିୟ ମତ୍ସ୍ୟାବତାର ରୂପ ପୂର୍ବ ଯୁଗାନ୍ତରେ, ଅର୍ଥାତ୍ ଚାକ୍ଷୁଷ ମନ୍ୱନ୍ତରର ଶେଷରେ, ସେହି ବର୍ଷପୁରୁଷ ମନୁଙ୍କୁ ପୂର୍ବରୁ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶିତ ହୋଇଥିଲା। ସେହି ବୈବସ୍ୱତ ମନୁ ଏବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ମହାନ ଭକ୍ତିଯୋଗରେ ଭଗବାନ ମତ୍ସ୍ୟଙ୍କୁ ଆରାଧନା କରି ଏହି ମନ୍ତ୍ର ଉଚ୍ଚାରଣ କରନ୍ତି।

Synonyms

• ramyake: in Ramyaka (varṣa)
• ramyake: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ramyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (सप्तमी/7th), Singular (एकवचन); place-name

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन)

• priyatamam: most dear
• priyatamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priyatama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense; qualifies mātsyam (rūpam)

• mātsyam: fish (as)
• mātsyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mātsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); 'fish-related'

• avatāra-rūpam: incarnation-form
• avatāra-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'form of an incarnation'

• tad-varṣa-puruṣasya: of the presiding person of that region
• tad-varṣa-puruṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'of that varṣa's person (presiding man)'

• manoḥ: of Manu
• manoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (षष्ठी/6th), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāk: formerly/before
• prāk: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• pradarśitam: shown/revealed
• pradarśitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra + dṛś (दृश्, धातु) + ta (कृत्)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/ta); Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies avatāra-rūpam

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

• idānīm: now
• idānīm: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: idānīm (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• api: also/even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• mahatā: by great
• mahatā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3rd), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies bhakti-yogena (instrumental of means)

• bhakti-yogena: by devotion-yoga
• bhakti-yogena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3rd), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'yoga of devotion'

• ārādhayati: worships
• ārādhayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + rādh (राध्, धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• idam: this (hymn/statement)
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (द्वितीया/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• udāharati: recites/utters
• udāharati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + ā + hṛ (हृ, धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān Matsya
• Manu (presiding Manu of Ramyaka-varṣa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya Avatar in Canto 5?

This verse states that in Ramyaka-varṣa the Lord’s most beloved form is Matsya, previously revealed to the presiding Manu, who even now worships Him through great bhakti-yoga and offers prayers.

Why is Manu mentioned in the description of Jambūdvīpa varṣas?

Śukadeva explains that each varṣa has a presiding authority; here, the Manu of Ramyaka-varṣa is highlighted because the Lord’s Matsya form was revealed to him and he continues to worship the Lord devotionally.

How can bhakti-yoga from this verse be applied in modern life?

Like Manu, one can practice steady devotion by choosing a cherished form of the Lord, worshiping consistently, and reciting prayers that remember the Lord’s mercy and pastimes.