Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

तत आदाय सा राज्ञा क्षिप्ता राजन् सरोवरे । तदावृत्यात्मना सोऽयं महामीनोऽन्ववर्धत ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

tata ādāya sā rājñā kṣiptā rājan sarovare tad āvṛtyātmanā so ’yaṁ mahā-mīno ’nvavardhata

Translation

ఓ మహారాజ పరిషిత్, రాజు బావిలోనుంచి ఆ చేపను తీసి సరస్సులో వేసెను; కాని ఆ మహామీనం తన దేహంతో ఆ నీటి పరిమాణాన్ని మించిపోయేలా విస్తరించింది.

Synonyms

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

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

• सा: she/it (that one)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of being thrown)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राज्ञा: by the king
• राज्ञा: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण/Agent-instrument; by the king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• क्षिप्ता: was thrown
• क्षिप्ता: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate; passive sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सरोवरे: in a lake
• सरोवरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरोवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तत्: that (lake)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; of covering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आवृत्य: having covered
• आवृत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + वृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having covered/filled'

• आत्मना: with its own body
• आत्मना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; स्वार्थे (by itself/with its body)

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

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Apposition (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• महामीनः: the great fish
• महामीनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā (प्रातिपदिक) + मीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महांश्चासौ मीनः

• अन्ववर्धत: grew further
• अन्ववर्धत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु + वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Parīkṣit Mahārāja
• Manu (Satyavrata)
• Matsya (the Fish incarnation of the Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Matsya avatar growing rapidly?

This verse describes how the fish, after being placed in a lake, expanded so greatly that it covered the water with its body—indicating a divine, extraordinary nature.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this to Parīkṣit Mahārāja?

Śukadeva is narrating the Matsya-avatāra episode to show how the Lord progressively revealed His divinity to Manu (Satyavrata) and prepared to protect him during the coming devastation.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Small beginnings in devotion can quickly become transformative—when the Lord’s presence is recognized and honored, divine guidance and protection naturally unfold.