Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

क्षिप्यमाणस्तमाहेदमिह मां मकरादय: । अदन्त्यतिबला वीर मां नेहोत्स्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

kṣipyamāṇas tam āhedam iha māṁ makarādayaḥ adanty atibalā vīra māṁ nehotsraṣṭum arhasi

Translation

เมื่อถูกโยนลงสู่มหาสมุทร ปลานั้นกล่าวแก่พระราชาสัตยวรตะว่า “โอ้วีรบุรุษ ในน้ำนี้มีมกราและฉลามอันทรงพลังน่ากลัวที่จะกินข้า ดังนั้นอย่าโยนข้าลงที่นี่เลย”

Synonyms

• क्षिप्यमाणः: being thrown
• क्षिप्यमाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘being thrown/being cast’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; pronoun ‘him’

• आह: said
• आह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘said’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘this (speech/thing)’

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/स्त्री (common), द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘me’

• मकर-आदयः: crocodiles and the like
• मकर-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मकर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (आदि-समास: ‘beginning with’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘crocodiles and others’

• अदन्ति: devour
• अदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; ‘they eat/devour’

• अतिबलाः: very strong
• अतिबलाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण of मकरादयः; ‘very strong’

• वीर: O hero
• वीर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन; vocative ‘O hero’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘me’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negative particle)

• इह: here/now
• इह: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; emphasis/locative adverb ‘here/now’

• उत्स्रष्टुम्: to release
• उत्स्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive; ‘to release/let go’

• अर्हसि: you should
• अर्हसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; ‘you ought/you are able’

Characters & Entities

• Matsya
• Manu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Vishnu protecting the helpless?

In this verse, Matsya (Viṣṇu in disguise) appeals for protection from stronger predators, illustrating that the Lord’s līlā teaches devotees to offer shelter to the vulnerable and that divine protection operates through dharmic action.

Why did Matsya (the fish) speak to Manu in Bhagavatam 8.24?

Matsya speaks to draw Manu into a relationship of compassionate protection; this becomes the doorway for the Lord’s avatāra-līlā in which Manu is guided and ultimately saved during the coming devastation.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life—what should I learn?

Do not abandon those seeking refuge; protecting the vulnerable and acting with courage and compassion is a core expression of dharma and a way to serve the Lord through practical kindness.