Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8: “Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Twenty-four
Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
SB8.24Summary
This chapter describes the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s incarnation as a fish, and it also describes the saving of Maharaja Satyavrata from an inundation.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself by svamsa (His personal expansions) and vibhinnamsa (His expansions as the living entities). As stated in Bhagavad-gita (4.8
), paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam: the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears on this planet for the protection of the sadhus, or devotees, and for the destruction of the miscreants, or nondevotees. He especially descends to give protection to the cows, the brahmanas, the demigods, the devotees and the Vedic system of religion. Thus He appears in various forms—sometimes as a fish, sometimes a boar, sometimes Nrsimhadeva, sometimes Vamanadeva and so on—but in any form or incarnation, although He comes within the atmosphere of the material modes of nature, He is unaffected. This is a sign of His supreme controlling power. Although He comes within the material atmosphere, maya cannot touch Him. Therefore, no material qualities can be attributed to Him in any degree.Once, at the end of the previous kalpa, a demon named Hayagriva wanted to take the Vedic knowledge away from Lord Brahma at the time of annihilation. Therefore the Supreme Personality of Godhead took the incarnation of a fish at the beginning of the period of Svayambhuva Manu and saved the Vedas. During the reign of Caksusa Manu there was a king named Satyavrata, who was a great pious ruler. To save him, the Lord appeared as the fish incarnation for a second time. King Satyavrata later became the son of the sun-god and was known as Sraddhadeva. He was established as Manu by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
To receive the favor of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, King Satyavrata engaged in the austerity of subsisting only by drinking water. Once, while performing this austerity on the bank of the Krtamala River and offering oblations of water with the palm of his hand, he found a small fish. The fish appealed to the King for protection, asking the King to keep Him in a safe place. Although the King did not know that the small fish was the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, as a king he gave shelter to the fish and kept Him in a water jug. The fish, being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, wanted to show His potency to King Satyavrata, and thus He immediately expanded His body in such a way that He could no longer be kept in the jug of water. The King then put the fish in a big well, but the well was also too small. Then the King put the fish in a lake, but the lake was also unsuitable. Finally the King put the fish in the sea, but even the sea could not accommodate Him. Thus the King understood that the fish was no one else but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and he requested the Lord to describe His incarnation as a fish. The Personality of Godhead, being pleased with the King, informed him that within a week there would be an inundation throughout the universe and that the fish incarnation would protect the King, along with the rsis, herbs, seeds and other living entities, in a boat, which would be attached to the fish’s horn. After saying this, the Lord disappeared. King Satyavrata offered respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord and continued to meditate upon Him. In due course of time, annihilation took place, and the King saw a boat coming near. After getting aboard with learned brahmanas and saintly persons, he offered prayers to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, and thus he taught Maharaja Satyavrata and the saintly persons about Vedic knowledge from the core of the heart. King Satyavrata took his next birth as Vaivasvata Manu, who is mentioned in Bhagavad-gita. Vivasvan manave praha: the sun-god spoke the science of Bhagavad-gita to his son Manu. Because of being the son of Vivasvan, this Manu is known as Vaivasvata Manu. SB8.24.1 TEXT 1 sri-rajovaca bhagavan chrotum icchami harer adbhuta-karmanah avatara-katham adyam maya-matsya-vidambanam SYNONYMS sri-raja uvaca—King Pariksit said; bhagavan—O most powerful; srotum—to hear; icchami—I desire; hareh—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; adbhuta-karmanah—whose activities are wonderful; avatara-katham—pastimes of the incarnation; adyam—first; maya-matsya-vidambanam—which is simply an imitation of a fish. TRANSLATION Maharaja Pariksit said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is eternally situated in His transcendental position, yet He descends to this material world and manifests Himself in various incarnations. His first incarnation was that of a great fish. O most powerful Sukadeva Gosvami, I wish to hear from you the pastimes of that fish incarnation. PURPORT The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-powerful, yet He accepted the form of an uncommon fish. This is one of the ten original incarnations of the Lord. SB8.24.2-3 TEXTS 2–3 yad-artham adadhad rupam matsyam loka-jugupsitam tamah-prakrti-durmarsam karma-grasta ivesvarah etan no bhagavan sarvam yathavad vaktum arhasi uttamasloka-caritam sarva-loka-sukhavaham SYNONYMS yat-artham—for what purpose; adadhat—accepted; rupam—form; matsyam—of a fish; loka-jugupsitam—which is certainly not very favorable in this world; tamah—in the mode of ignorance; prakrti—such behavior; durmarsam—which is certainly very painful and condemned; karma-grastah—one who is under the laws of karma; iva—like; isvarah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; etat—all these facts; nah—unto us; bhagavan—O most powerful sage; sarvam—everything; yathavat—properly; vaktum arhasi—kindly describe; uttamasloka-caritam—the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-loka-sukha-avaham—by hearing of which everyone becomes happy. TRANSLATION What was the purpose for which the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted the abominable form of a fish, exactly as an ordinary living being accepts different forms under the laws of karma? The form of a fish is certainly condemned and full of terrible pain. O my lord, what was the purpose of this incarnation? Kindly explain this to us, for hearing about the pastimes of the Lord is auspicious for everyone. PURPORT Pariksit Maharaja’s question to Sukadeva Gosvami was based on this principle stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (4.7): yada yada hi dharmasya “Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself.” The Lord appears in each incarnation to save the world from irreligious principles and especially to protect His devotees (paritranaya sadhunam). Vamanadeva, for example, appeared to save the devotee Bali Maharaja. Similarly, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted the abominable form of a fish, He must have done so to favor some devotee. Pariksit Maharaja was eager to know about the devotee for whom the Supreme Lord accepted this form. SB8.24.4 TEXT 4 sri-suta uvaca ity ukto visnu-ratena bhagavan badarayanih uvaca caritam visnor matsya-rupena yat krtam SYNONYMS sri-sutah uvaca—Sri Suta Gosvami said; iti uktah—thus being questioned; visnu-ratena—by Maharaja Pariksit, known as Visnurata; bhagavan—the most powerful; badarayanih—the son of Vyasadeva, Sukadeva Gosvami; uvaca—said; caritam—the pastimes; visnoh—of Lord Visnu; matsya-rupena—by Him in the form of a fish; yat—whatever; krtam—was done. TRANSLATION Suta Gosvami said: When Pariksit Maharaja thus inquired from Sukadeva Gosvami, that most powerful saintly person began describing the pastimes of the Lord’s incarnation as a fish. SB8.24.5 TEXT 5 sri-suka uvaca go-vipra-sura-sadhunam chandasam api cesvarah raksam icchams tanur dhatte dharmasyarthasya caiva hi SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; go—of the cows; vipra—of the brahmanas; sura—of the demigods; sadhunam—and of the devotees; chandasam api—even of the Vedic literature; ca—and; isvarah—the supreme controller; raksam—the protection; icchan—desiring; tanuh dhatte—accepts the forms of incarnations; dharmasya—of the principles of religion; arthasya—of the principles of the purpose of life; ca—and; eva—indeed; hi—certainly. TRANSLATION Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: O King, for the sake of protecting the cows, brahmanas, demigods, devotees, the Vedic literature, religious principles, and principles to fulfill the purpose of life, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts the forms of incarnations. PURPORT The Supreme Personality of Godhead generally appears in various types of incarnations to give protection to the cows and brahmanas. The Lord is described as go-brahmana-hitaya ca; in other words, He is always eager to benefit the cows and brahmanas. When Lord Krsna appeared, He purposefully became a cowherd boy and showed personally how to give protection to the cows and calves. Similarly, He showed respect to Sudama Vipra, a real brahmana. From the Lord’s personal activities, human society should learn how to give protection specifically to the brahmanas and cows. Then the protection of religious principles, fulfillment of the aim of life and protection of Vedic knowledge can be achieved. Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained; and without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled. The Lord, therefore, is described as go-brahmana-hitaya because His incarnation is only for the protection of the cows and brahmanas. Unfortunately, because in Kali-yuga there is no protection of the cows and brahminical culture, everything is in a precarious position. If human society wants to be exalted, the leaders of society must follow the instructions of Bhagavad-gita and give protection to the cows, the brahmanas and brahminical culture. SB8.24.6 TEXT 6 uccavacesu bhutesu caran vayur ivesvarah noccavacatvam bhajate nirgunatvad dhiyo gunaih SYNONYMS ucca-avacesu—having higher or lower bodily forms; bhutesu—among the living entities; caran—behaving; vayuh iva—exactly like the air; isvarah—the Supreme Lord; na—not; ucca-avacatvam—the quality of higher or lower grades of life; bhajate—accepts; nirgunatvat—because of being transcendental, above all material qualities; dhiyah—generally; gunaih—by the modes of material nature. TRANSLATION Like the air passing through different types of atmosphere, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although appearing sometimes as a human being and sometimes as a lower animal, is always transcendental. Because He is above the material modes of nature, He is unaffected by higher and lower forms. PURPORT The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master of the material nature (mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sacaracaram [Bg. 9.10]). Therefore, being the supreme controller of the laws of nature, the Lord cannot be under their influence. An example given in this regard is that although the wind blows through many places, the air is not affected by the qualities of these places. Although the air sometimes carries the odor of a filthy place, the air has nothing to do with such a place. Similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, being all-good and all-auspicious, is never affected by the material qualities like an ordinary living entity. purusah prakrti-stho hi bhunkte prakrtijan gunan (Bg. 13.21). When the living entity is in the material nature, he is affected by its qualities. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, however, is not affected. Disrespectfully, one who does not know this considers the Supreme Personality of Godhead an ordinary living being (avajananti mam mudhah). Param bhavam ajanantah: such a conclusion is reached by the unintelligent because they are unaware of the transcendental qualities of the Lord. SB8.24.7 TEXT 7 asid atita-kalpante brahmo naimittiko layah samudropaplutas tatra loka bhur-adayo nrpa SYNONYMS asit—there was; atita—past; kalpa-ante—at the end of the kalpa; brahmah—of Lord Brahma’s day; naimittikah—because of that; layah—inundation; samudra—in the ocean; upaplutah—were inundated; tatra—there; lokah—all the planets; bhuh-adayah—Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svah, the three lokas; nrpa—O King. TRANSLATION O King Pariksit, at the end of the past millennium, at the end of Brahma’s day, because Lord Brahma sleeps during the night, annihilation took place, and the three worlds were covered by the water of the ocean. SB8.24.8 TEXT 8 kalenagata-nidrasya dhatuh sisayisor bali mukhato nihsrtan vedan hayagrivo ’ntike ’harat SYNONYMS kalena—because of time (the end of Brahma’s day); agata-nidrasya—when he felt sleepy; dhatuh—of Brahma; sisayisoh—desiring to lie down to sleep; bali—very powerful; mukhatah—from the mouth; nihsrtan—emanating; vedan—the Vedic knowledge; hayagrivah—the great demon named Hayagriva; antike—nearby; aharat—stole. TRANSLATION At the end of Brahma’s day, when Brahma felt sleepy and desired to lie down, the Vedas were emanating from his mouth, and the great demon named Hayagriva stole the Vedic knowledge. SB8.24.9 TEXT 9 jnatva tad danavendrasya hayagrivasya cestitam dadhara saphari-rupam bhagavan harir isvarah SYNONYMS jnatva—after understanding; tat—that; danava-indrasya—of the great demon; hayagrivasya—of Hayagriva; cestitam—activity; dadhara—accepted; saphari-rupam—the form of a fish; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; harih—the Lord; isvarah—the supreme controller. TRANSLATION Understanding the acts of the great demon Hayagriva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is full of all opulences, assumed the form of a fish and saved the Vedas by killing the demon. PURPORT Because everything was inundated by water, to save the Vedas it was necessary for the Lord to assume the form of a fish. SB8.24.10 TEXT 10 tatra raja-rsih kascin namna satyavrato mahan narayana-paro ’tapat tapah sa salilasanah SYNONYMS tatra—in that connection; raja-rsih—a king equally qualified as a great saintly person; kascit—someone; namna—by the name; satyavratah—Satyavrata; mahan—a great personality; narayana-parah—a great devotee of Lord Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atapat—performed austerities; tapah—penances; sah—he; salila-asanah—only drinking water. TRANSLATION During the Caksusa-manvantara there was a great king named Satyavrata who was a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Satyavrata performed austerities by subsisting only on water. PURPORT The Lord assumed one fish incarnation to save the Vedas at the beginning of the Svayambhuva-manvantara, and at the end of the Caksusa-manvantara the Lord again assumed the form of a fish just to favor the great king named Satyavrata. As there were two incarnations of Varaha, there were also two incarnations of fish. The Lord appeared as one fish incarnation to save the Vedas by killing Hayagriva, and He assumed the other fish incarnation to show favor to King Satyavrata. SB8.24.11 TEXT 11 yo ’sav asmin maha-kalpe tanayah sa vivasvatah sraddhadeva iti khyato manutve harinarpitah SYNONYMS yah—one who; asau—He (the Supreme Person); asmin—in this; maha-kalpe—great millennium; tanayah—son; sah—he; vivasvatah—of the sun-god; sraddhadevah—by the name Sraddhadeva; iti—thus; khyatah—celebrated; manutve—in the position of Manu; harina—by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; arpitah—was situated. TRANSLATION In this [the present] millennium King Satyavrata later became the son of Vivasvan, the king of the sun planet, and was known as Sraddhadeva. By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was given the post of Manu. SB8.24.12 TEXT 12 ekada krtamalayam kurvato jala-tarpanam tasyanjaly-udake kacic chaphary ekabhyapadyata SYNONYMS ekada—one day; krtamalayam—on the bank of the Krtamala River; kurvatah—executing; jala-tarpanam—the offering of oblations of water; tasya—his; anjali—palmful; udake—in the water; kacit—some; saphari—a small fish; eka—one; abhyapadyata—was generated. TRANSLATION One day while King Satyavrata was performing austerities by offering water on the bank of the River Krtamala, a small fish appeared in the water in his palms. SB8.24.13 TEXT 13 satyavrato ’njali-gatam saha toyena bharata utsasarja nadi-toye sapharim dravidesvarah SYNONYMS satyavratah—King Satyavrata; anjali-gatam—in the water held in the palms of the King; saha—with; toyena—water; bharata—O King Pariksit; utsasarja—threw; nadi-toye—in the water of the river; sapharim—that small fish; dravida-isvarah—Satyavrata, the King of Dravida. TRANSLATION Satyavrata, the King of Dravidadesa, threw the fish into the water of the river along with the water in his palm, O King Pariksit, descendant of Bharata. SB8.24.14 TEXT 14 tam aha satikarunam maha-karunikam nrpam yadobhyo jnati-ghatibhyo dinam mam dina-vatsala katham visrjase rajan bhitam asmin sarij-jale SYNONYMS tam—unto him (Satyavrata); aha—said; sa—that small fish; ati-karunam—extremely compassionate; maha-karunikam—extremely merciful; nrpam—unto King Satyavrata; yadobhyah—to the aquatics; jnati-ghatibhyah—who are always eager to kill the smaller fish; dinam—very poor; mam—me; dina-vatsala—O protector of the poor; katham—why; visrjase—you are throwing; rajan—O King; bhitam—very much afraid; asmin—within this; sarit-jale—in the water of the river. TRANSLATION With an appealing voice, the poor small fish said to King Satyavrata, who was very merciful: My dear King, protector of the poor, why are you throwing Me in the water of the river, where there are other aquatics who can kill Me? I am very much afraid of them. PURPORT In the Matsya Purana it is said: ananta-saktir bhagavan “The Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses unlimited potency. Nonetheless, in His pastime in the form of a fish He begged protection from King Satyavrata.” SB8.24.15 TEXT 15 tam atmano ’nugrahartham pritya matsya-vapur-dharam ajanan raksanarthaya sapharyah sa mano dadhe SYNONYMS tam—unto the fish; atmanah—personal; anugraha-artham—to show favor; pritya—very much pleased; matsya-vapuh-dharam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had assumed the form of a fish; ajanan—without knowledge of this; raksana-arthaya—just to give protection; sapharyah—of the fish; sah—the King; manah—mind; dadhe—decided. TRANSLATION To please himself, King Satyavrata, not knowing that the fish was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, decided with great pleasure to give the fish protection. PURPORT Here is an example of giving service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead even without knowledge. Such service is called ajnata-sukrti. King Satyavrata wanted to show his own mercy, not knowing that the fish was Lord Visnu. By such unknowing devotional service, one is favored by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Service rendered to the Supreme Lord, knowingly or unknowingly, never goes in vain. SB8.24.16 TEXT 16 tasya dinataram vakyam asrutya sa mahipatih kalasapsu nidhayainam dayalur ninya asramam SYNONYMS tasyah—of the fish; dina-taram—pitiable; vakyam—words; asrutya—hearing; sah—that; mahi-patih—the King; kalasa-apsu—in the water contained in the water jug; nidhaya—taking; enam—the fish; dayaluh—merciful; ninye—brought; asramam—to his residence. TRANSLATION The merciful King, being moved by the pitiable words of the fish, placed the fish in a water jug and brought Him to his own residence. SB8.24.17 TEXT 17 sa tu tatraika-ratrena vardhamana kamandalau alabdhvatmavakasam va idam aha mahipatim SYNONYMS sa—that fish; tu—but; tatra—therein; eka-ratrena—in one night; vardhamana—expanding; kamandalau—in the waterpot; alabdhva—without attaining; atma-avakasam—a comfortable position for His body; va—either; idam—this; aha—said; mahi-patim—unto the King. TRANSLATION But in one night that fish grew so much that He could not move His body comfortably in the water of the pot. He then spoke to the King as follows. SB8.24.18 TEXT 18 naham kamandalav asmin krcchram vastum ihotsahe kalpayaukah suvipulam yatraham nivase sukham SYNONYMS na—not; aham—I; kamandalau—in this waterpot; asmin—in this; krcchram—with great difficulty; vastum—to live; iha—here; utsahe—like; kalpaya—just consider; okah—residential place; su-vipulam—more expanded; yatra—wherein; aham—I; nivase—can live; sukham—in pleasure. TRANSLATION O My dear King, I do not like living in this waterpot with such great difficulty. Therefore, please find some better reservoir of water where I can live comfortably. SB8.24.19 TEXT 19 sa enam tata adaya nyadhad audancanodake tatra ksipta muhurtena hasta-trayam avardhata SYNONYMS sah—the King; enam—unto the fish; tatah—thereafter; adaya—taking out; nyadhat—placed; audancana-udake—in a well of water; tatra—therein; ksipta—being thrown; muhurtena—within a moment; hasta-trayam—three cubits; avardhata—immediately developed. TRANSLATION Then, taking the fish out of the waterpot, the King threw Him in a large well. But within a moment the fish developed to the length of three cubits. SB8.24.20 TEXT 20 na ma etad alam rajan sukham vastum udancanam prthu dehi padam mahyam yat tvaham saranam gata SYNONYMS na—not; me—unto Me; etat—this; alam—fit; rajan—O King; sukham—in happiness; vastum—to live; udancanam—reservoir of water; prthu—very great; dehi—give; padam—a place; mahyam—unto Me; yat—which; tva—unto you; aham—I; saranam—shelter; gata—have taken. TRANSLATION The fish then said: My dear King, this reservoir of water is not fit for My happy residence. Please give Me a more extensive pool of water, for I have taken shelter of you. SB8.24.21 TEXT 21 tata adaya sa rajna ksipta rajan sarovare tad avrtyatmana so ’yam maha-mino ’nvavardhata SYNONYMS tatah—from there; adaya—taking away; sa—the fish; rajna—by the King; ksipta—being thrown; rajan—O King (Maharaja Pariksit); sarovare—in a lake; tat—that; avrtya—covering; atmana—by the body; sah—the fish; ayam—this; maha-minah—gigantic fish; anvavardhata—immediately developed. TRANSLATION O Maharaja Pariksit, the King took the fish from the well and threw Him in a lake, but the fish then assumed a gigantic form exceeding the extent of the water. SB8.24.22 TEXT 22 naitan me svastaye rajann udakam salilaukasah nidhehi raksa-yogena hrade mam avidasini SYNONYMS na—not; etat—this; me—unto Me; svastaye—comfortable; rajan—O King; udakam—water; salila-okasah—because I am a big aquatic; nidhehi—put; raksa-yogena—by some means; hrade—in a lake; mam—Me; avidasini—perpetual. TRANSLATION The fish then said: O King, I am a large aquatic, and this water is not at all suitable for Me. Now kindly find some way to save Me. It would be better to put Me in the water of a lake that will never reduce. SB8.24.23 TEXT 23 ity uktah so ’nayan matsyam tatra tatravidasini jalasaye ’sammitam tam samudre praksipaj jhasam SYNONYMS iti uktah—thus being requested; sah—the King; anayat—brought; matsyam—the fish; tatra—therein; tatra—therein; avidasini—where the water never diminishes; jala-asaye—in the reservoir of water; asammitam—unlimited; tam—unto the fish; samudre—in the ocean; praksipat—threw; jhasam—the gigantic fish. TRANSLATION When thus requested, King Satyavrata took the fish to the largest reservoir of water. But when that also proved insufficient, the King at last threw the gigantic fish into the ocean. SB8.24.24 TEXT 24 ksipyamanas tam ahedam iha mam makaradayah adanty atibala vira mam nehotsrastum arhasi SYNONYMS ksipyamanah—being thrown in the ocean; tam—unto the King; aha—the fish said; idam—this; iha—in this place; mam—Me; makara-adayah—dangerous aquatics like sharks; adanti—will eat; ati-balah—because of being too powerful; vira—O heroic King; mam—Me; na—not; iha—in this water; utsrastum—to throw; arhasi—you deserve. TRANSLATION While being thrown in the ocean, the fish said to King Satyavrata: O hero, in this water there are very powerful and dangerous sharks that will eat Me. Therefore you should not throw Me in this place.
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
matsya-rupi janardanah
kridartham yacayam asa
svayam satyavratam nrpam