Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

स एनां तत आदाय न्यधादौदञ्चनोदके । तत्र क्षिप्ता मुहूर्तेन हस्तत्रयमवर्धत ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

sa enāṁ tata ādāya nyadhād audañcanodake tatra kṣiptā muhūrtena hasta-trayam avardhata

Translation

تب راجا نے مچھلی کو گھڑے کے پانی سے نکال کر ایک بڑے کنویں میں ڈال دیا۔ مگر ایک ہی لمحے میں وہ تین ہاتھ لمبی ہو گئی۔

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एनाम्: her/this (female)
• एनाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

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

• न्यधात्: placed/put
• न्यधात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• औदञ्चन-उदके: in the pot-water
• औदञ्चन-उदके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: औदञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + उदक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): औदञ्चनस्य उदके = 'in the water of the pot'

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• क्षिप्ता: (she) having been thrown/placed
• क्षिप्ता: Karma (कर्म/Object; 'she/it being thrown')
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग-सूचक (PPP)

• मुहूर्तेन: within a moment
• मुहूर्तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; time-measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुहूर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• हस्त-त्रयम्: three hand-spans
• हस्त-त्रयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; measure attained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (numerical): त्रयो हस्ताः = 'three hands (in length)'

• अवर्धत: grew
• अवर्धत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Matsya (the fish incarnation of the Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Matsya avatara growing in size?

In Bhagavatam 8.24.19, the fish placed by King Satyavrata into a water-pot expands rapidly—within a moment becoming three hands long—revealing a supernatural, divine nature.

Why did Satyavrata place the fish into a water pot?

Out of compassion and protection, Satyavrata took the small fish he had found and placed it in a vessel of water—an act that becomes the beginning of the Matsya-avatāra revelation.

Practical application of this Matsya avatara verse in modern life?

Small acts of mercy and responsibility can open the door to transformative spiritual experiences; what seems insignificant may carry divine purpose beyond our immediate understanding.