Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच इति ब्रुवाणं नृपतिं जगत्पति: सत्यव्रतं मत्स्यवपुर्युगक्षये । विहर्तुकाम: प्रलयार्णवेऽब्रवी- च्चिकीर्षुरेकान्तजनप्रिय: प्रियम् ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca iti bruvāṇaṁ nṛpatiṁ jagat-patiḥ satyavrataṁ matsya-vapur yuga-kṣaye vihartu-kāmaḥ pralayārṇave ’bravīc cikīrṣur ekānta-jana-priyaḥ priyam

Translation

舒迦提婆·高斯瓦弥说：当萨提亚弗拉塔王如此陈述时，宇宙之主在劫末为利益其专一奉献者并在洪水之海中行戏游而取鱼身，遂以慈爱之言答复如下。

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī (प्रातिपदिक) + śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; honorific karmadhāraya

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ lakāra (Perfect/लिट्), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotation marker

• bruvāṇam: speaking
• bruvāṇam: Karma (object) of abravīt (understood)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya (present active participle/शतृ), Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana

• nṛpatim: the king
• nṛpatim: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana

• jagat-patiḥ: Lord of the universe
• jagat-patiḥ: Karta (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: jagataḥ patiḥ

• satyavratam: Satyavrata
• satyavratam: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satyavrata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; proper name

• matsya-vapuḥ: (in) fish-form
• matsya-vapuḥ: Apposition to jagat-patiḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: matsya (प्रातिपदिक) + vapus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Prathamā (Nom.), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: matsya-rūpaṃ vapuḥ

• yuga-kṣaye: at the end of the age
• yuga-kṣaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण) / time-location
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuga (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (Locative/7th), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: yugasya kṣaye

• vihartu-kāmaḥ: desiring to play
• vihartu-kāmaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (agent qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-hṛ (धातु) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tumun + kāma (desiderative adjective): ‘wishing to sport’; Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with jagat-patiḥ

• pralaya-arṇave: in the ocean of dissolution
• pralaya-arṇave: Adhikaraṇa (location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pralaya (प्रातिपदिक) + arṇava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (Loc.), Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: pralayasya arṇave

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ lakāra (Aorist), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• cikīrṣuḥ: intending to do
• cikīrṣuḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative participle (sananta) ‘cikīrṣu’ (wanting to do), Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; agrees with jagat-patiḥ

• ekānta-jana-priyaḥ: dear to his exclusive devotees
• ekānta-jana-priyaḥ: Apposition/epithet of jagat-patiḥ
• Type: Noun
• Root: ekānta (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa: ekāntajanānāṁ priyaḥ

• priyam: a pleasing (word)
• priyam: Karma (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsaka, Dvitīyā (Acc.), Ekavacana; object of abravīt

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Satyavrata (Vaivasvata Manu)
• Matsya (the Supreme Lord as Fish Avatar)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the Lord being affectionate to exclusive devotees (ekānta-bhaktas)?

This verse states that the Lord is ekānta-jana-priya—especially dear to and affectionate toward those who worship Him with one-pointed devotion—and He responds to them with pleasing, personal guidance.

Why did Matsya (the Lord) speak to King Satyavrata at the end of the age (yuga-kṣaye)?

Because a cosmic dissolution (pralaya) was imminent, the Lord, appearing as Matsya, intended to perform His saving pastime and therefore addressed Satyavrata with reassuring and auspicious instructions.

How can I apply the teaching of ‘ekānta devotion’ in modern life?

Practice steady, focused devotion—regular hearing/chanting, sincere prayer, and aligning daily choices with dharma—trusting that the Lord guides and protects those who remain one-pointed in bhakti.