Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.4.18
Who is speaking and story frame
गुप्तोऽप्यये मनुरिलौषधयश्च मात्स्ये
क्रौडे हतो दितिज उद्धरताम्भस: क्ष्माम् ।
कौर्मे धृतोऽद्रिरमृतोन्मथने स्वपृष्ठे
ग्राहात् प्रपन्नमिभराजममुञ्चदार्तम् ॥ १८ ॥
gupto ’pyaye manur ilauṣadhayaś ca mātsye
krauḍe hato diti-ja uddharatāmbhasaḥ kṣmām
kaurme dhṛto ’drir amṛtonmathane sva-pṛṣṭhe
grāhāt prapannam ibha-rājam amuñcad ārtam
In His appearance as a fish, the Lord protected Satyavrata Manu, the earth and her valuable herbs. He protected them from the waters of annihilation. As a boar, the Lord killed Hiraṇyākṣa, the son of Diti, while delivering the earth from the universal waters. And as a tortoise, He lifted Mandara Mountain on His back so that nectar could be churned from the ocean. The Lord saved the surrendered king of the elephants, Gajendra, who was suffering terrible distress from the grips of a crocodile.
Read this verse on Vedabase.ioThis verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.
From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.