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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

8.24.17 8.24.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.18

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

नाहं कमण्डलावस्मिन् कृच्छ्रं वस्तुमिहोत्सहे ।

कल्पयौक: सुविपुलं यत्राहं निवसे सुखम् ॥ १८ ॥

nāhaṁ kamaṇḍalāv asmin

kṛcchraṁ vastum ihotsahe

kalpayaukaḥ suvipulaṁ

yatrāhaṁ nivase sukham

Translation

O My dear King, I do not like living in this waterpot with such great difficulty. Therefore, please find some better reservoir of water where I can live comfortably.

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.

A Request for More Comfortable Shelter

1
The fish told the King that living in the waterpot had become very difficult.
2
He asked the King to find a better reservoir of water.
3
His request was for a place where He could live comfortably.

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:

During the reign of Cākṣuṣa Manu there was a king named Satyavrata, who was a great pious ruler. To save him, the Lord appeared as the fish incarnation for a second time.

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nanot
ahamI
kamaṇḍalauin this waterpot
asminin this
kṛcchramwith great difficulty
vastumto live
ihahere
utsahelike

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

How carefully do I listen when someone explains what would make their situation easier?

Practice

Ask someone you are helping whether one small change would make them more comfortable.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Request for More Comfortable ShelterThis 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 8.24.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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