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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
  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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.14

Who is speaking and story frame

तमाह सातिकरुणं महाकारुणिकं नृपम् ।

यादोभ्यो ज्ञातिघातिभ्यो दीनां मां दीनवत्सल ।

कथं विसृजसे राजन् भीतामस्मिन् सरिज्जले ॥ १४ ॥

tam āha sātikaruṇaṁ

mahā-kāruṇikaṁ nṛpam

yādobhyo jñāti-ghātibhyo

dīnāṁ māṁ dīna-vatsala

kathaṁ visṛjase rājan

bhītām asmin sarij-jale

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Unlimited Lord Begs Protection

  1. 1

    The small fish appealed to the very merciful King as a protector of the poor, expressing fear of other aquatics.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead possesses unlimited potency.

  3. 3

    Nonetheless, in His pastime as a fish, He begged protection from King Satyavrata.

Key points from the purport
  • Nonetheless, in His pastime in the form of a fish He begged protection from King Satyavrata.”

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:

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tamunto him (Satyavrata)
  2. āhasaid
  3. sāthat small fish
  4. ati-karuṇamextremely compassionate
  5. mahā-kāruṇikamextremely merciful
  6. nṛpamunto King Satyavrata
  7. yādobhyaḥto the aquatics
  8. jñāti-ghātibhyaḥwho are always eager to kill the smaller fish
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “afraid”, “fear”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “merciful”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “protector”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What strikes me about the unlimited Lord choosing to ask for protection?

Practice

Spend one minute reflecting on the contrast between the Lord’s unlimited potency and His appeal for protection.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Unlimited Lord Begs ProtectionThis 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 8.24.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.