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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
8.23.318.24.2-3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 8.24.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि हरेरद्भ‍ुतकर्मण: ।

अवतारकथामाद्यां मायामत्स्यविडम्बनम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

bhagavañ chrotum icchāmi

harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ

avatāra-kathām ādyāṁ

māyā-matsya-viḍambanam

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit 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 Śukadeva Gosvāmī, I wish to hear from you the pastimes of that fish incarnation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear About the Lord’s Wonderful Incarnation

  1. 1

    Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, remains eternally transcendental even when He descends into this material world.

  2. 2

    Although all-powerful, the Lord accepted the form of an uncommon fish. This is one of His ten original incarnations.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit expressed his desire to hear the pastimes of this fish incarnation from Śukadeva Gosvāmī.

Key points from the 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.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Catastrophe → Trust and protection. Divine guardianship amid destruction closes the canto.

Chapter 24 of Canto 8: Matsya preserves life and knowledge. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus He appears in various forms — sometimes as a fish, sometimes a boar, sometimes Nṛsiṁhadeva, sometimes Vāmanadeva 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācaKing Parīkṣit said
  2. bhagavanO most powerful
  3. śrotumto hear
  4. icchāmiI desire
  5. hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari
  6. adbhuta-karmaṇaḥwhose activities are wonderful
  7. avatāra-kathāmpastimes of the incarnation
  8. ādyāmfirst
  9. māyā-matsya-viḍambanamwhich is simply an imitation of a fish
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What would you like to understand about the Lord’s acceptance of an uncommon fish form?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, with the desire to hear about the Lord’s pastimes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear About the Lord’s Wonderful IncarnationThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.24.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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