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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 ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation
8.24.2-38.24.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.4

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 8.24.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीसूत उवाच

इत्युक्तो विष्णुरातेन भगवान् बादरायणि: ।

उवाच चरितं विष्णोर्मत्स्यरूपेण यत् कृतम् ॥ ४ ॥

śrī-sūta uvāca

ity ukto viṣṇu-rātena

bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ

uvāca caritaṁ viṣṇor

matsya-rūpeṇa yat kṛtam

Translation

Sūta Gosvāmī said: When Parīkṣit Mahārāja thus inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī, that most powerful saintly person began describing the pastimes of the Lord’s incarnation as a fish.

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.

Sincere Inquiry Leads to Hearing

  1. 1

    Sūta Gosvāmī describes how Parīkṣit Mahārāja’s inquiry received an answer.

  2. 2

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the most powerful saintly person, began speaking in response to the King.

  3. 3

    His subject was the pastimes of the Lord’s incarnation as a fish.

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:

This chapter describes the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s incarnation as a fish, and it also describes the saving of Mahārāja Satyavrata from an inundation. The Supreme Personality of Godhead expands Himself by svāṁśa (His personal expansions) and vibhinnāṁśa (His expansions as the living entities).
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-sūtaḥ uvācaŚrī Sūta Gosvāmī said
  2. iti uktaḥthus being questioned
  3. viṣṇu-rātenaby Mahārāja Parīkṣit, known as Viṣṇurāta
  4. bhagavānthe most powerful
  5. bādarāyaṇiḥthe son of Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī
  6. uvācasaid
  7. caritamthe pastimes
  8. viṣṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.24

    In this verse: “inquired”, “inquiry”

  • 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.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can you bring greater attentiveness to hearing about the Lord?

Practice

Write down one sincere question you have about the Lord’s fish incarnation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Inquiry Leads to HearingThis 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 8.24.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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