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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 17

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

सा तु तत्रैकरात्रेण वर्धमाना कमण्डलौ । अलब्ध्वात्मावकाशं वा इदमाह महीपतिम् ॥ १७ ॥

sā tu tatraika-rātreṇa vardhamānā kamaṇḍalau alabdhvātmāvakāśaṁ vā idam āha mahīpatim

مگر وہاں ایک ہی رات میں وہ مچھلی اتنی بڑھ گئی کہ کمندلو کے پانی میں اس کے جسم کے لیے جگہ نہ رہی۔ تب اس نے بادشاہ سے یوں کہا۔

साshe
सा:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
तुbut
तु:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (particle), विरोध/अन्वयार्थ
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)
एक-रात्रेणwithin one night
एक-रात्रेण:
Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootएक + रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental; time-span), एकवचन
वर्धमानाgrowing
वर्धमाना:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeVerb
Root√वृध् (धातु)
Formवर्तमान-कृदन्त (present participle/शानच्), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘growing’
कमण्डलौin the water-pot (kamaṇḍalu)
कमण्डलौ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootकमण्डलु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन
अलब्ध्वाnot finding
अलब्ध्वा:
Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअ + √लभ् (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘not obtaining’
आत्म-अवकाशम्space for herself
आत्म-अवकाशम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन् + अवकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘for herself space’
वाor
वा:
Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)
इदम्this
इदम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
आहsaid
आह:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअह्/ब्रू (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
महीपतिम्to the king
महीपतिम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootमही + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
S
Satyavrata (King Manu)
M
Matsya (the fish incarnation, in concealed form)

FAQs

This verse states that within a single night the fish grew so large in the water-pot that it could not find space, prompting it to address the king—signaling a divine, extraordinary presence.

Because the fish had outgrown the limited container and, as part of the Lord’s leela, it began guiding the king step-by-step toward the coming revelation and protection during the great inundation.

Limits of our “containers” (plans, comfort zones) can reveal a higher direction—when circumstances outgrow our control, it can be a cue to seek divine guidance and expand one’s faith and responsibility.