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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 ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
8.24.158.24.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.16

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:With an appealing voice, the poor small fishsince 8.24.14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्या दीनतरं वाक्यमाश्रुत्य स महीपति: ।

कलशाप्सु निधायैनां दयालुर्निन्य आश्रमम् ॥ १६ ॥

tasyā dīnataraṁ vākyam

āśrutya sa mahīpatiḥ

kalaśāpsu nidhāyaināṁ

dayālur ninya āśramam

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.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

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

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mercy Becomes Practical Care

  1. 1

    The merciful King heard the pitiable words of the fish.

  2. 2

    Moved by those words, he placed the fish in a jug containing water.

  3. 3

    He then brought the fish to his own residence.

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:

Therefore, no material qualities can be attributed to Him in any degree. Once, at the end of the previous kalpa, a demon named Hayagrīva wanted to take the Vedic knowledge away from Lord Brahmā at the time of annihilation.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyāḥof the fish
  2. dīna-tarampitiable
  3. vākyamwords
  4. āśrutyahearing
  5. saḥthat
  6. mahī-patiḥthe King
  7. kalaśa-apsuin the water contained in the water jug
  8. nidhāyataking
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “merciful”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “heard”

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

When I hear someone’s distress, do I respond with practical care?

Practice

Listen carefully to someone who needs help and offer one small, practical kindness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMercy Becomes Practical CareThis 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 8.24.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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