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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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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

8.24.12 8.24.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.24.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सत्यव्रतोऽञ्जलिगतां सह तोयेन भारत ।

उत्ससर्ज नदीतोये शफरीं द्रविडेश्वर: ॥ १३ ॥

satyavrato ’ñjali-gatāṁ

saha toyena bhārata

utsasarja nadī-toye

śapharīṁ draviḍeśvaraḥ

Translation

Satyavrata, the King of Draviḍadeśa, threw the fish into the water of the river along with the water in his palm, O King Parīkṣit, descendant of Bharata.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Satyavrata Releases the Fish

1
Satyavrata was the King of Draviḍadeśa.
2
The small fish was in the water held in his palm.
3
He threw the fish into the river along with that water.

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

Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Once, while performing this austerity on the bank of the Kṛtamālā 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.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.24

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

satyavrataḥKing Satyavrata
añjali-gatāmin the water held in the palms of the King
sahawith
toyenawater
bhārataO King Parīkṣit
utsasarjathrew
nadī-toyein the water of the river
śapharīmthat small fish
draviḍa-īśvaraḥSatyavrata, the King of Draviḍa

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
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.24
In this verse: “king”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I picture this simple action clearly before reading what follows?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, noticing where the fish was and where the King placed Him.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySatyavrata Releases the FishThis 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 8.24.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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