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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
8.24.398.24.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.24.40

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 8.24.32inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आस्तीर्य दर्भान् प्राक्कूलान् राजर्षि: प्रागुदङ्‌मुख: ।

निषसाद हरे: पादौ चिन्तयन् मत्स्यरूपिण: ॥ ४० ॥

āstīrya darbhān prāk-kūlān

rājarṣiḥ prāg-udaṅ-mukhaḥ

niṣasāda hareḥ pādau

cintayan matsya-rūpiṇaḥ

Translation

After spreading kuśa with its tips pointing east, the saintly King, himself facing the northeast, sat down on the grass and began to meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who had assumed the form of 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.

Meditate Upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead

  1. 1

    The saintly King spreads kuśa grass with its tips pointing east.

  2. 2

    Facing northeast, he sits down on the grass to meditate.

  3. 3

    His meditation is upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who has assumed the form of 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:

King Satyavrata offered respectful obeisances to the Supreme Lord and continued to meditate upon Him. In due course of time, annihilation took place, and the King saw a boat coming near.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āstīryaspreading
  2. darbhānkuśa grass
  3. prāk-kūlānthe upper portion facing east
  4. rāja-ṛṣiḥSatyavrata, the saintly King
  5. prāk-udak-mukhaḥlooking toward the northeast ( īśāna)
  6. niṣasādasat down
  7. hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. pādauupon the lotus feet
  9. cintayanmeditating
  10. matsya-rūpiṇaḥwho had assumed the form of a fish
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

  • 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 I give the Supreme Lord my undivided attention for a short time today?

Practice

Sit quietly for two minutes and meditate upon Viṣṇu in His form as a fish.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditate Upon the Supreme Personality of GodheadThis 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 8.24.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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