Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord's Fish Incarnation

 

8.24.1

śrī-rājovāca

bhagavañ chrotum icchāmi

harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ

avatāra-kathām ādyāḿ

māyā-matsya-viḍambanam

 

śrī-rājā uvāca — King Parīkṣit said; bhagavan — O most powerful; śrotum — to hear; icchāmi — I desire; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ — whose activities are wonderful; avatāra-kathām — pastimes of the incarnation; ādyām — first; māyā-matsya-viḍambanam — which is simply an imitation of a fish.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Mahārāja Parīkṣit said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is eternally situated in His transcendental position, yet He descends to this material world and manifests Himself in various incarnations. His first incarnation was that of a great fish. O most powerful Śukadeva Gosvāmī, I wish to hear from you the pastimes of that fish incarnation.

 

8.24.2-3

yad-artham adadhād rūpaḿ

mātsyaḿ loka-jugupsitam

tamaḥ-prakṛti-durmarṣaḿ

karma-grasta iveśvaraḥ

 

etan no bhagavan sarvaḿ

yathāvad vaktum arhasi

uttamaśloka-caritaḿ

sarva-loka-sukhāvaham

 

yat-artham — for what purpose; adadhāt — accepted; rūpam — form; mātsyam — of a fish; loka-jugupsitam — which is certainly not very favorable in this world; tamaḥ — in the mode of ignorance; prakṛti — such behavior; durmarṣam — which is certainly very painful and condemned; karma-grastaḥ — one who is under the laws of karma; iva — like; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

 

etat — all these facts; naḥ — unto us; bhagavan — O most powerful sage; sarvam — everything; yathāvat — properly; vaktum arhasi — kindly describe; uttamaśloka-caritam — the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-loka-sukha-āvaham — by hearing of which everyone becomes happy.

 

TRANSLATION

 

What was the purpose for which the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted the abominable form of a fish, exactly as an ordinary living being accepts different forms under the laws of karma? The form of a fish is certainly condemned and full of terrible pain. O my lord, what was the purpose of this incarnation? Kindly explain this to us, for hearing about the pastimes of the Lord is auspicious for everyone.

 

8.24.4

śrī-sūta uvāca

ity ukto viṣṇu-rātena

bhagavān bādarāyaṇiḥ

uvāca caritaḿ viṣṇor

matsya-rūpeṇa yat kṛtam

 

śrī-sūtaḥ uvāca — Śrī Sūta Gosvāmī said; iti uktaḥ — thus being questioned; viṣṇu-rātena — by Mahārāja Parīkṣit, known as Viṣṇurāta; bhagavān — the most powerful; bādarāyaṇiḥ — the son of Vyāsadeva, Śukadeva Gosvāmī; uvāca — said; caritam — the pastimes; viṣṇoḥ — of Lord Viṣṇu; matsya-rūpeṇa — by Him in the form of a fish; yat — whatever; kṛtam — was done.

 

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.

 

8.24.5

śrī-śuka uvāca

go-vipra-sura-sādhūnāḿ

chandasām api ceśvaraḥ

rakṣām icchaḿs tanūr dhatte

dharmasyārthasya caiva hi

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; go — of the cows; vipra — of the brāhmaṇas; sura — of the demigods; sādhūnām — and of the devotees; chandasām api — even of the Vedic literature; ca — and; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller; rakṣām — the protection; icchan — desiring; tanūḥ dhatte — accepts the forms of incarnations; dharmasya — of the principles of religion; arthasya — of the principles of the purpose of life; ca — and; eva — indeed; hi — certainly.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, for the sake of protecting the cows, brāhmaṇas, demigods, devotees, the Vedic literature, religious principles, and principles to fulfill the purpose of life, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts the forms of incarnations.

 

8.24.6

uccāvaceṣu bhūteṣu

caran vāyur iveśvaraḥ

noccāvacatvaḿ bhajate

nirguṇatvād dhiyo guṇaiḥ

 

ucca-avaceṣu — having higher or lower bodily forms; bhūteṣu — among the living entities; caran — behaving; vāyuḥ iva — exactly like the air; īśvaraḥ — the Supreme Lord; na — not; ucca-avacatvam — the quality of higher or lower grades of life; bhajate — accepts; nirguṇatvāt — because of being transcendental, above all material qualities; dhiyaḥ — generally; guṇaiḥ — by the modes of material nature.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Like the air passing through different types of atmosphere, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although appearing sometimes as a human being and sometimes as a lower animal, is always transcendental. Because He is above the material modes of nature, He is unaffected by higher and lower forms.

 

8.24.7

āsīd atīta-kalpānte

brāhmo naimittiko layaḥ

samudropaplutās tatra

lokā bhūr-ādayo nṛpa

 

āsīt — there was; atīta — past; kalpa-ante — at the end of the kalpa; brāhmaḥ — of Lord Brahmā's day; naimittikaḥ — because of that; layaḥ — inundation; samudra — in the ocean; upaplutāḥ — were inundated; tatra — there; lokāḥ — all the planets; bhūḥ-ādayaḥ — Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ and Svaḥ, the three lokas; nṛpa — O King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O King Parīkṣit, at the end of the past millennium, at the end of Brahmā's day, because Lord Brahmā sleeps during the night, annihilation took place, and the three worlds were covered by the water of the ocean.

 

8.24.8

kālenāgata-nidrasya

dhātuḥ śiśayiṣor balī

mukhato niḥsṛtān vedān

hayagrīvo 'ntike 'harat

 

kālena — because of time (the end of Brahmā's day); āgata-nidrasya — when he felt sleepy; dhātuḥ — of Brahmā; śiśayiṣoḥ — desiring to lie down to sleep; balī — very powerful; mukhataḥ — from the mouth; niḥsṛtān — emanating; vedān — the Vedic knowledge; hayagrīvaḥ — the great demon named Hayagrīva; antike — nearby; aharat — stole.

 

TRANSLATION

 

At the end of Brahmā's day, when Brahmā felt sleepy and desired to lie down, the Vedas were emanating from his mouth, and the great demon named Hayagrīva stole the Vedic knowledge.

 

8.24.9

jñātvā tad dānavendrasya

hayagrīvasya ceṣṭitam

dadhāra śapharī-rūpaḿ

bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ

 

jñātvā — after understanding; tat — that; dānava-indrasya — of the great demon; hayagrīvasya — of Hayagrīva; ceṣṭitam — activity; dadhāra — accepted; śapharī-rūpam — the form of a fish; bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hariḥ — the Lord; īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Understanding the acts of the great demon Hayagrīva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is full of all opulences, assumed the form of a fish and saved the Vedas by killing the demon.

 

8.24.10

tatra rāja-ṛṣiḥ kaścin

nāmnā satyavrato mahān

nārāyaṇa-paro 'tapat

tapaḥ sa salilāśanaḥ

 

tatra — in that connection; rāja-ṛṣiḥ — a king equally qualified as a great saintly person; kaścit — someone; nāmnā — by the name; satyavrataḥ — Satyavrata; mahān — a great personality; nārāyaṇa-paraḥ — a great devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead; atapat — performed austerities; tapaḥ — penances; saḥ — he; salila-āśanaḥ — only drinking water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

During the Cākṣuṣa-manvantara there was a great king named Satyavrata who was a great devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Satyavrata performed austerities by subsisting only on water.

 

8.24.11

yo 'sāv asmin mahā-kalpe

tanayaḥ sa vivasvataḥ

śrāddhadeva iti khyāto

manutve hariṇārpitaḥ

 

yaḥ — one who; asau — He (the Supreme Person); asmin — in this; mahā-kalpe — great millennium; tanayaḥ — son; saḥ — he; vivasvataḥ — of the sun-god; śrāddhadevaḥ — by the name Śrāddhadeva; iti — thus; khyātaḥ — celebrated; manutve — in the position of Manu; hariṇā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; arpitaḥ — was situated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In this [the present] millennium King Satyavrata later became the son of Vivasvān, the king of the sun planet, and was known as Śrāddhadeva. By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he was given the post of Manu.

 

8.24.12

ekadā kṛtamālāyāḿ

kurvato jala-tarpaṇam

tasyāñjaly-udake kācic

chaphary ekābhyapadyata

 

ekadā — one day; kṛtamālāyām — on the bank of the Kṛtamālā River; kurvataḥ — executing; jala-tarpaṇam — the offering of oblations of water; tasya — his; añjali — palmful; udake — in the water; kācit — some; śapharī — a small fish; ekā — one; abhyapadyata — was generated.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One day while King Satyavrata was performing austerities by offering water on the bank of the River Kṛtamālā, a small fish appeared in the water in his palms.

 

8.24.13

satyavrato 'ñjali-gatāḿ

saha toyena bhārata

utsasarja nadī-toye

śapharīḿ draviḍeśvaraḥ

 

satyavrataḥ — King Satyavrata; añjali-gatām — in the water held in the palms of the King; saha — with; toyena — water; bhārata — O King Parīkṣit; utsasarja — threw; nadī-toye — in the water of the river; śapharīm — that small fish; draviḍa-īśvaraḥ — Satyavrata, the King of Draviḍa.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Satyavrata, the King of Draviḍadeśa, threw the fish into the water of the river along with the water in his palm, O King Parīkṣit, descendant of Bharata.

 

8.24.14

tam āha sātikaruṇaḿ

mahā-kāruṇikaḿ nṛpam

yādobhyo jñāti-ghātibhyo

dīnāḿ māḿ dīna-vatsala

kathaḿ visṛjase rājan

bhītām asmin sarij-jale

 

tam — unto him (Satyavrata); āha — said; sā — that small fish; ati-karuṇam — extremely compassionate; mahā-kāruṇikam — extremely merciful; nṛpam — unto King Satyavrata; yādobhyaḥ — to the aquatics; jñāti-ghātibhyaḥ — who are always eager to kill the smaller fish; dīnām — very poor; mām — me; dīna-vatsala — O protector of the poor; katham — why; visṛjase — you are throwing; rājan — O King; bhītām — very much afraid; asmin — within this; sarit-jale — in the water of the river.

 

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.

 

8.24.15

tam ātmano 'nugrahārthaḿ

prītyā matsya-vapur-dharam

ajānan rakṣaṇārthāya

śapharyāḥ sa mano dadhe

 

tam — unto the fish; ātmanaḥ — personal; anugraha-artham — to show favor; prītyā — very much pleased; matsya-vapuḥ-dharam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had assumed the form of a fish; ajānan — without knowledge of this; rakṣaṇa-arthāya — just to give protection; śapharyāḥ — of the fish; saḥ — the King; manaḥ — mind; dadhe — decided.

 

TRANSLATION

 

To please himself, King Satyavrata, not knowing that the fish was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, decided with great pleasure to give the fish protection.

 

8.24.16

tasyā dīnataraḿ vākyam

āśrutya sa mahīpatiḥ

kalaśāpsu nidhāyaināḿ

dayālur ninya āśramam

 

tasyāḥ — of the fish; dīna-taram — pitiable; vākyam — words; āśrutya — hearing; saḥ — that; mahī-patiḥ — the King; kalaśa-apsu — in the water contained in the water jug; nidhāya — taking; enām — the fish; dayāluḥ — merciful; ninye — brought; āśramam — to his residence.

 

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.

 

8.24.17

sā tu tatraika-rātreṇa

vardhamānā kamaṇḍalau

alabdhvātmāvakāśaḿ vā

idam āha mahīpatim

 

sā — that fish; tu — but; tatra — therein; eka-rātreṇa — in one night; vardhamānā — expanding; kamaṇḍalau — in the waterpot; alabdhvā — without attaining; ātma-avakāśam — a comfortable position for His body; vā — either; idam — this; āha — said; mahī-patim — unto the King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

But in one night that fish grew so much that He could not move His body comfortably in the water of the pot. He then spoke to the King as follows.

 

8.24.18

nāhaḿ kamaṇḍalāv asmin

kṛcchraḿ vastum ihotsahe

kalpayaukaḥ suvipulaḿ

yatrāhaḿ nivase sukham

 

na — not; aham — I; kamaṇḍalau — in this waterpot; asmin — in this; kṛcchram — with great difficulty; vastum — to live; iha — here; utsahe — like; kalpaya — just consider; okaḥ — residential place; su-vipulam — more expanded; yatra — wherein; aham — I; nivase — can live; sukham — in pleasure.

 

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.

 

8.24.19

sa enāḿ tata ādāya

nyadhād audañcanodake

tatra kṣiptā muhūrtena

hasta-trayam avardhata

 

saḥ — the King; enām — unto the fish; tataḥ — thereafter; ādāya — taking out; nyadhāt — placed; audañcana-udake — in a well of water; tatra — therein; kṣiptā — being thrown; muhūrtena — within a moment; hasta-trayam — three cubits; avardhata — immediately developed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then, taking the fish out of the waterpot, the King threw Him in a large well. But within a moment the fish developed to the length of three cubits.

 

8.24.20

na ma etad alaḿ rājan

sukhaḿ vastum udañcanam

pṛthu dehi padaḿ mahyaḿ

yat tvāhaḿ śaraṇaḿ gatā

 

na — not; me — unto Me; etat — this; alam — fit; rājan — O King; sukham — in happiness; vastum — to live; udañcanam — reservoir of water; pṛthu — very great; dehi — give; padam — a place; mahyam — unto Me; yat — which; tvā — unto you; aham — I; śaraṇam — shelter; gatā — have taken.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The fish then said: My dear King, this reservoir of water is not fit for My happy residence. Please give Me a more extensive pool of water, for I have taken shelter of you.

 

8.24.21

tata ādāya sā rājñā

kṣiptā rājan sarovare

tad āvṛtyātmanā so 'yaḿ

mahā-mīno 'nvavardhata

 

tataḥ — from there; ādāya — taking away; sā — the fish; rājñā — by the King; kṣiptā — being thrown; rājan — O King (Mahārāja Parīkṣit); sarovare — in a lake; tat — that; āvṛtya — covering; ātmanā — by the body; saḥ — the fish; ayam — this; mahā-mīnaḥ — gigantic fish; anvavardhata — immediately developed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the King took the fish from the well and threw Him in a lake, but the fish then assumed a gigantic form exceeding the extent of the water.

 

8.24.22

naitan me svastaye rājann

udakaḿ salilaukasaḥ

nidhehi rakṣā-yogena

hrade mām avidāsini

 

na — not; etat — this; me — unto Me; svastaye — comfortable; rājan — O King; udakam — water; salila-okasaḥ — because I am a big aquatic; nidhehi — put; rakṣā-yogena — by some means; hrade — in a lake; mām — Me; avidāsini — perpetual.

TRANSLATION

The fish then said: O King, I am a large aquatic, and this water is not at all suitable for Me. Now kindly find some way to save Me. It would be better to put Me in the water of a lake that will never reduce.

 

8.24.23

ity uktaḥ so 'nayan matsyaḿ

tatra tatrāvidāsini

jalāśaye 'sammitaḿ taḿ

samudre prākṣipaj jhaṣam

 

iti uktaḥ — thus being requested; saḥ — the King; anayat — brought; matsyam — the fish; tatra — therein; tatra — therein; avidāsini — where the water never diminishes; jala-āśaye — in the reservoir of water; asammitam — unlimited; tam — unto the fish; samudre — in the ocean; prākṣipat — threw; jhaṣam — the gigantic fish.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When thus requested, King Satyavrata took the fish to the largest reservoir of water. But when that also proved insufficient, the King at last threw the gigantic fish into the ocean.

 

8.24.24

kṣipyamāṇas tam āhedam

iha māḿ makarādayaḥ

adanty atibalā vīra

māḿ nehotsraṣṭum arhasi

 

kṣipyamāṇaḥ — being thrown in the ocean; tam — unto the King; āha — the fish said; idam — this; iha — in this place; mām — Me; makara-ādayaḥ — dangerous aquatics like sharks; adanti — will eat; ati-balāḥ — because of being too powerful; vīra — O heroic King; mām — Me; na — not; iha — in this water; utsraṣṭum — to throw; arhasi — you deserve.

 

TRANSLATION

 

While being thrown in the ocean, the fish said to King Satyavrata: O hero, in this water there are very powerful and dangerous sharks that will eat Me. Therefore you should not throw Me in this place.

 

8.24.25

evaḿ vimohitas tena

vadatā valgu-bhāratīm

tam āha ko bhavān asmān

matsya-rūpeṇa mohayan

 

evam — thus; vimohitaḥ — bewildered; tena — by the fish; vadatā — speaking; valgu-bhāratīm — sweet words; tam — unto him; āha — said; kaḥ — who; bhavān — You; asmān — us; matsya-rūpeṇa — in the form of a fish; mohayan — bewildering.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After hearing these sweet words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a fish, the King, being bewildered, asked Him: Who are You, sir? You simply bewilder us.

 

8.24.26

naivaḿ vīryo jalacaro

dṛṣṭo 'smābhiḥ śruto 'pi vā

yo bhavān yojana-śatam

ahnābhivyānaśe saraḥ

 

na — not; evam — thus; vīryaḥ — powerful; jala-caraḥ — aquatic; dṛṣṭaḥ — seen; asmābhiḥ — by us; śrutaḥ api — nor heard of; vā — either; yaḥ — who; bhavān — Your Lordship; yojana-śatam — hundreds of miles; ahnā — in one day; abhivyānaśe — expanding; saraḥ — water.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, in one day You have expanded Yourself for hundreds of miles, covering the water of the river and the ocean. Before this I had never seen or heard of such an aquatic animal.

 

8.24.27

nūnaḿ tvaḿ bhagavān sākṣād

dharir nārāyaṇo 'vyayaḥ

anugrahāya bhūtānāḿ

dhatse rūpaḿ jalaukasām

 

nūnam — certainly; tvam — You (are); bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sākṣāt — directly; hariḥ — the Lord; nārāyaṇaḥ — the Personality of Godhead; avyayaḥ — inexhaustible; anugrahāya — to show mercy; bhūtānām — to all living entities; dhatse — You have assumed; rūpam — a form; jala-okasām — like an aquatic.

 

TRANSLATION

 

My Lord, You are certainly the inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, Śrī Hari. It is to show Your mercy to the living entities that You have now assumed the form of an aquatic.

 

8.24.28

namas te puruṣa-śreṣṭha

sthity-utpatty-apyayeśvara

bhaktānāḿ naḥ prapannānāḿ

mukhyo hy ātma-gatir vibho

 

namaḥ — I offer my respectful obeisances; te — unto You; puruṣa-śreṣṭha — the best of all living entities, the best of all enjoyers; sthiti — of maintenance; utpatti — creation; apyaya — and destruction; īśvara — the Supreme Lord; bhaktānām — of Your devotees; naḥ — like us; prapannānām — those who are surrendered; mukhyaḥ — the supreme; hi — indeed; ātma-gatiḥ — the supreme destination; vibho — Lord Viṣṇu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, master of creation, maintenance and annihilation, O best of enjoyers, Lord Viṣṇu, You are the leader and destination of surrendered devotees like us. Therefore let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

 

8.24.29

sarve līlāvatārās te

bhūtānāḿ bhūti-hetavaḥ

jñātum icchāmy ado rūpaḿ

yad-arthaḿ bhavatā dhṛtam

 

sarve — everything; līlā — pastimes; avatārāḥ — incarnations; te — of Your Lordship; bhūtānām — of all living entities; bhūti — of a flourishing condition; hetavaḥ — the causes; jñātum — to know; icchāmi — I wish; adaḥ — this; rūpam — form; yat-artham — for what purpose; bhavatā — by Your Lordship; dhṛtam — assumed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

All Your pastimes and incarnations certainly appear for the welfare of all living entities. Therefore, my Lord, I wish to know the purpose for which You have assumed this form of a fish.

 

8.24.30

na te 'ravindākṣa padopasarpaṇaḿ

mṛṣā bhavet sarva-suhṛt-priyātmanaḥ

yathetareṣāḿ pṛthag-ātmanāḿ satām

adīdṛśo yad vapur adbhutaḿ hi naḥ

 

na — never; te — of Your Lordship; aravinda-akṣa — My Lord, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus; pada-upasarpaṇam — worship of the lotus feet; mṛṣā — useless; bhavet — can become; sarva-suhṛt — the friend of everyone; priya — dear to everyone; ātmanaḥ — the Supersoul of everyone; yathā — as; itareṣām — of others (the demigods); pṛthak-ātmanām — living entities who have material bodies different from the soul; satām — of those who are spiritually fixed; adīdṛśaḥ — You have manifested; yat — that; vapuḥ — body; adbhutam — wonderful; hi — indeed; naḥ — unto us.

 

TRANSLATION

 

O my Lord, possessing eyes like the petals of a lotus, the worship of the demigods, who are in the bodily concept of life, is fruitless in all respects. But because You are the supreme friend and dearmost Supersoul of everyone, worship of Your lotus feet is never useless. You have therefore manifested Your form as a fish.

 

8.24.31

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti bruvāṇaḿ nṛpatiḿ jagat-patiḥ

satyavrataḿ matsya-vapur yuga-kṣaye

vihartu-kāmaḥ pralayārṇave 'bravīc

cikīrṣur ekānta-jana-priyaḥ priyam

 

śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; iti — thus; bruvāṇam — speaking like that; nṛpatim — unto the King; jagat-patiḥ — the master of the entire universe; satyavratam — unto Satyavrata; matsya-vapuḥ — the Lord, who had assumed the form of a fish; yuga-kṣaye — at the end of a yuga; vihartu-kāmaḥ — to enjoy His own pastimes; pralaya-arṇave — in the water of inundation; abravīt — said; cikīrṣuḥ — desiring to do; ekānta-jana-priyaḥ — most beloved by the devotees; priyam — something very beneficial.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: When King Satyavrata spoke in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who at the end of the yuga had assumed the form of a fish to benefit His devotee and enjoy His pastimes in the water of inundation, responded as follows.

 

8.24.32

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

saptame hy adyatanād ūrdhvam

ahany etad arindama

nimańkṣyaty apyayāmbhodhau

trailokyaḿ bhūr-bhuvādikam

 

śrī-bhagavān uvāca — the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; saptame — on the seventh; hi — indeed; adyatanāt — from today; ūrdhvam — forward; ahani — on the day; etat — this creation; arimdama — O King who can subdue your enemies; nimańkṣyati — shall be inundated; apyaya-ambhodhau — in the ocean of destruction; trailokyam — the three lokas; bhūḥ-bhuva-ādikam — namely Bhūrloka, Bhuvarloka and Svarloka.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: O King, who can subdue your enemies, on the seventh day from today the three worlds — Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ and Svaḥ — will all merge into the water of inundation.

 

8.24.33

tri-lokyāḿ līyamānāyāḿ

saḿvartāmbhasi vai tadā

upasthāsyati nauḥ kācid

viśālā tvāḿ mayeritā

 

tri-lokyām — the three lokas; līyamānāyām — upon being merged; saḿvarta-ambhasi — in the water of destruction; vai — indeed; tadā — at that time; upasthāsyati — will appear; nauḥ — boat; kācit — one; viśālā — very big; tvām — unto you; mayā — by Me; īritā — sent.

 

TRANSLATION

 

When all the three worlds merge into the water, a large boat sent by Me will appear before you.

 

8.24.34-35

tvaḿ tāvad oṣadhīḥ sarvā

bījāny uccāvacāni ca

saptarṣibhiḥ parivṛtaḥ

sarva-sattvopabṛḿhitaḥ

 

āruhya bṛhatīḿ nāvaḿ

vicariṣyasy aviklavaḥ

ekārṇave nirāloke

ṛṣīṇām eva varcasā

 

tvam — you; tāvat — until that time; oṣadhīḥ — herbs; sarvāḥ — all kinds of; bījāni — seeds; ucca-avacāni — lower and higher; ca — and; sapta-ṛṣibhiḥ — by the seven ṛṣis; parivṛtaḥ — surrounded; sarva-sattva — all kinds of living entities; upabṛḿhitaḥ — surrounded by;

 

āruhya — getting on; bṛhatīm — very large; nāvam — boat; vicariṣyasi — shall travel; aviklavaḥ — without moroseness; eka-arṇave — in the ocean of inundation; nirāloke — without being illuminated; ṛṣīṇām — of the great ṛṣis; eva — indeed; varcasā — by the effulgence.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, O King, you shall collect all types of herbs and seeds and load them on that great boat. Then, accompanied by the seven ṛṣis and surrounded by all kinds of living entities, you shall get aboard that boat, and without moroseness you shall easily travel with your companions on the ocean of inundation, the only illumination being the effulgence of the great ṛṣis.

 

8.24.36

dodhūyamānāḿ tāḿ nāvaḿ

samīreṇa balīyasā

upasthitasya me śṛńge

nibadhnīhi mahāhinā

 

dodhūyamānām — being tossed about; tām — that; nāvam — boat; samīreṇa — by the wind; balīyasā — very powerful; upasthitasya — situated nearby; me — of Me; śṛńge — to the horn; nibadhnīhi — bind; mahā-ahinā — by the large serpent (Vāsuki).

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then, as the boat is tossed about by the powerful winds, attach the vessel to My horn by means of the great serpent Vāsuki, for I shall be present by your side.

 

8.24.37

ahaḿ tvām ṛṣibhiḥ sārdhaḿ

saha-nāvam udanvati

vikarṣan vicariṣyāmi

yāvad brāhmī niśā prabho

 

aham — I; tvām — unto you; ṛṣibhiḥ — with all the saintly persons; sārdham — all together; saha — with; nāvam — the boat; udanvati — in the water of devastation; vikarṣan — contacting; vicariṣyāmi — I shall travel; yāvat — as long as; brāhmī — pertaining to Lord Brahmā; niśā — night; prabho — O King.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Pulling the boat, with you and all the ṛṣis in it, O King, I shall travel in the water of devastation until the night of Lord Brahmā's slumber is over.

 

8.24.38

madīyaḿ mahimānaḿ ca

paraḿ brahmeti śabditam

vetsyasy anugṛhītaḿ me

sampraśnair vivṛtaḿ hṛdi

 

madīyam — pertaining to Me; mahimānam — glories; ca — and; param brahma — the Supreme Brahman, the Absolute Truth; iti — thus; śabditam — celebrated; vetsyasi — you shall understand; anugṛhītam — being favored; me — by Me; sampraśnaiḥ — by inquiries; vivṛtam — thoroughly explained; hṛdi — within the heart.

 

TRANSLATION

 

You will be thoroughly advised and favored by Me, and because of your inquiries, everything about My glories, which are known as paraḿ brahma, will be manifest within your heart. Thus you will know everything about Me.

 

8.24.39

ittham ādiśya rājānaḿ

harir antaradhīyata

so 'nvavaikṣata taḿ kālaḿ

yaḿ hṛṣīkeśa ādiśat

 

ittham — as aforementioned; ādiśya — instructing; rājānam — the King (Satyavrata); hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; antaradhīyata — disappeared from that place; saḥ — he (the King); anvavaikṣata — began to wait for; tam kālam — that time; yam — which; hṛṣīka-īśaḥ — Lord Hṛṣīkeśa, the master of all the senses; ādiśat — instructed.

 

TRANSLATION

 

After thus instructing the King, the Supreme Personality of Godhead immediately disappeared. Then King Satyavrata began to wait for that time of which the Lord had instructed.

 

8.24.40

āstīrya darbhān prāk-kūlān

rājarṣiḥ prāg-udań-mukhaḥ

niṣasāda hareḥ pādau

cintayan matsya-rūpiṇaḥ

 

āstīrya — spreading; darbhān — kuśa grass; prāk-kūlān — the upper portion facing east; rāja-ṛṣiḥ — Satyavrata, the saintly King; prāk-udak-mukhaḥ — looking toward the northeast (īśāna); niṣasāda — sat down; hareḥ — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; pādau — upon the lotus feet; cintayan — meditating; matsya-rūpiṇaḥ — who had assumed the form of a fish.

 

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.

 

8.24.41

tataḥ samudra udvelaḥ

sarvataḥ plāvayan mahīm

vardhamāno mahā-meghair

varṣadbhiḥ samadṛśyata

 

tataḥ — thereafter; samudraḥ — the ocean; udvelaḥ — overflowing; sarvataḥ — everywhere; plāvayan — inundating; mahīm — the earth; vardhamānaḥ — increasing more and more; mahā-meghaiḥ — by gigantic clouds; varṣadbhiḥ — incessantly pouring rain; samadṛśyata — King Satyavrata saw it.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Thereafter, gigantic clouds pouring incessant water swelled the ocean more and more. Thus the ocean began to overflow onto the land and inundate the entire world.

 

8.24.42

dhyāyan bhagavad-ādeśaḿ

dadṛśe nāvam āgatām

tām āruroha viprendrair

ādāyauṣadhi-vīrudhaḥ

 

dhyāyan — remembering; bhagavat-ādeśam — the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; dadṛśe — he saw; nāvam — a boat; āgatām — coming near; tām — aboard the boat; āruroha — got up; vipra-indraiḥ — with the saintly brāhmaṇas; ādāya — taking; auṣadhi — herbs; vīrudhaḥ — and creepers.

 

TRANSLATION

 

As Satyavrata remembered the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he saw a boat coming near him. Thus he collected herbs and creepers, and, accompanied by saintly brāhmaṇas, he got aboard the boat.

 

8.24.43

tam ūcur munayaḥ prītā

rājan dhyāyasva keśavam

sa vai naḥ sańkaṭād asmād

avitā śaḿ vidhāsyati

 

tam — unto the King; ūcuḥ — said; munayaḥ — all the saintly brāhmaṇas; prītāḥ — being pleased; rājan — O King; dhyāyasva — meditate; keśavam — upon the Supreme Lord, Keśava; saḥ — His Lordship; vai — indeed; naḥ — us; sańkaṭāt — from the great danger; asmāt — as now visible; avitā — will save; śam — auspiciousness; vidhāsyati — He will arrange.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The saintly brāhmaṇas, being pleased with the King, said to him: O King, please meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Keśava. He will save us from this impending danger and arrange for our well-being.

 

8.24.44

so 'nudhyātas tato rājñā

prādurāsīn mahārṇave

eka-śṛńga-dharo matsyo

haimo niyuta-yojanaḥ

 

saḥ — the Lord; anudhyātaḥ — being meditated upon; tataḥ — thereafter (hearing the words of the saintly brāhmaṇas); rājñā — by the King; prādurāsīt — appeared (before him); mahā-arṇave — in the great ocean of inundation; eka-śṛńga-dharaḥ — with one horn; matsyaḥ — a big fish; haimaḥ — made of gold; niyuta-yojanaḥ — eight million miles long.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Then, while the King constantly meditated upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a large golden fish appeared in the ocean of inundation. The fish had one horn and was eight million miles long.

 

8.24.45

nibadhya nāvaḿ tac-chṛńge

yathokto hariṇā purā

varatreṇāhinā tuṣṭas

tuṣṭāva madhusūdanam

 

nibadhya — anchoring; nāvam — the boat; tat-śṛńge — onto the horn of the big fish; yathā-uktaḥ — as advised; hariṇā — by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; purā — before; varatreṇa — used as a rope; ahinā — by the great serpent (of the name Vāsuki); tuṣṭaḥ — being pleased; tuṣṭāva — he satisfied; madhusūdanam — the Supreme Lord, the killer of Madhu.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Following the instructions formerly given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the King anchored the boat to the fish's horn, using the serpent Vāsuki as a rope. Thus being satisfied, he began offering prayers to the Lord.

 

8.24.46

śrī-rājovāca

anādy-avidyopahatātma-saḿvidas

tan-mūla-saḿsāra-pariśramāturāḥ

yadṛcchayopasṛtā yam āpnuyur

vimuktido naḥ paramo gurur bhavān

 

śrī-rājā uvāca — the King offered prayers as follows; anādi — from time immemorial; avidyā — by ignorance; upahata — has been lost; ātma-saḿvidaḥ — knowledge about the self; tat — that is; mūla — the root; saḿsāra — material bondage; pariśrama — full of miserable conditions and hard work; āturāḥ — suffering; yadṛcchayā — by the supreme will; upasṛtāḥ — being favored by the ācārya; yam — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; āpnuyuḥ — can achieve; vimukti-daḥ — the process of liberation; naḥ — our; paramaḥ — the supreme; guruḥ — spiritual master; bhavān — Your Lordship.

 

TRANSLATION

 

The King said: By the grace of the Lord, those who have lost their self-knowledge since time immemorial, and who because of this ignorance are involved in a material, conditional life full of miseries, obtain the chance to meet the Lord's devotee. I accept that Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme spiritual master.

 

8.24.47

jano 'budho 'yaḿ nija-karma-bandhanaḥ

sukhecchayā karma samīhate 'sukham

yat-sevayā tāḿ vidhunoty asan-matiḿ

granthiḿ sa bhindyād dhṛdayaḿ sa no guruḥ

 

janaḥ — the conditioned soul subjected to birth and death; abudhaḥ — most foolish because of accepting the body as the self; ayam — he; nija-karma-bandhanaḥ — accepting different bodily forms as a result of his sinful activities; sukha-icchayā — desiring to be happy within this material world; karma — fruitive activities; samīhate — plans; asukham — but it is for distress only; yat-sevayā — by rendering service unto whom; tām — the entanglement of karma; vidhunoti — clears up; asat-matim — the unclean mentality (accepting the body as the self); granthim — hard knot; saḥ — His Lordship the Supreme Personality of Godhead; bhindyāt — being cut off; hṛdayam — in the core of the heart; saḥ — He (the Lord); naḥ — our; guruḥ — the supreme spiritual master.

 

TRANSLATION

 

In hopes of becoming happy in this material world, the foolish conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that result only in suffering. But by rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from such false desires for happiness. May my supreme spiritual master cut the knot of false desires from the core of my heart.

 

8.24.48

yat-sevayāgner iva rudra-rodanaḿ

pumān vijahyān malam ātmanas tamaḥ

bhajeta varṇaḿ nijam eṣa so 'vyayo

bhūyāt sa īśaḥ paramo guror guruḥ

 

yat-sevayā — the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by serving whom; agneḥ — in touch with fire; iva — as it is; rudra-rodanam — a block of silver or gold becomes purified; pumān — a person; vijahyāt — can give up; malam — all the dirty things of material existence; ātmanaḥ — of one's self; tamaḥ — the mode of ignorance, by which one performs pious and impious activities; bhajeta — may revive; varṇam — his original identity; nijam — one's own; eṣaḥ — such; saḥ — He; avyayaḥ — inexhaustible; bhūyāt — let Him become; saḥ — He; īśaḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead; paramaḥ — the supreme; guroḥ guruḥ — the spiritual master of all other spiritual masters.

 

TRANSLATION

 

One who wants to be free of material entanglement should take to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and give up the contamination of ignorance, involving pious and impious activities. Thus one regains his original identity, just as a block of gold or silver sheds all dirt and becomes purified when treated with fire. May that inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead become our spiritual master, for He is the original spiritual master of all other spiritual masters.

 

8.24.49

na yat-prasādāyuta-bhāga-leśam

anye ca devā guravo janāḥ svayam

kartuḿ sametāḥ prabhavanti puḿsas

tam īśvaraḿ tvāḿ śaraṇaḿ prapadye