rule


 

Canto 8

Dâlâlera Gîtâ

 

 

Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord's Fish Incarnation

(1) The honorable king said: 'Oh powerful one, I would like to hear the story about that first incarnation of the Lord whose deeds are so wonderful, in which He poses as a fish [or Matsya, see also 2.7: 12, 5.18: 24-28 and 6.9: 23]. (2-3) For what purpose did the Controller accept the form of a fish? It is a form that is certainly not the most favorable one in the world. To operate in that slow mode must be as hard as the life of someone tormented by the laws of karma! Oh mighty sage, please tell us, as good as you can, everything about the activities of Lord Uttamas'loka ['the One glorified'], for to hear about Him makes the entire world happy [B.G. 4: 7].'

(4) S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: "The mighty son of Vyâsadeva thus, upon the request of Vishnurâta ['Vishnu-sent'], told him everything there was to know about the deeds of Lord Vishnu in the form of a fish. (5) S'rî S'uka said: 'For the sake of the cows, the brahmins, the enlightened souls, the devotees as also the Vedic literatures, the Supreme Controller assumes in His incarnations [all kinds of] forms for the purpose of protecting the dharma. (6) Even though the Lord assumes forms among higher or lower living beings, He [Himself], just like moving air, is therewith not of a higher or lower nature, for being intent on the basic qualities, He is transcendental to those modes. (7) During the previous day of Brahmâ [the previous kalpa] there was at its end an inundation because of which all the existing worlds were submerged in the ocean, oh King. (8) At the moment Brahmâ felt sleepy and wanted to lie down to rest, the Vedic knowledge most powerfully emanated from his mouth. Hayagrîva, who happened to be nearby, then took it away [see 2.7: 11 and 5.18: 6]. (9) Understanding Hayagrîva's Dânava course of action the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller, [thereupon] assumed the form of a fish. (10) When that happened there was some saintly king called Satyavrata, a great personality and devotee of Lord Nârâyana, who in his penances had developed the austerity of subsisting on water only. (11) During this day of Brahmâ he as a son of the sun god became known as S'râddhadeva. Lord Hari entrusted to him the position of Manu [see 6.6: 40 and 8.13: 1]. (12) When he one day was sitting at the Kritamâlâ river, performing oblations of water, some sort of a small fish manifested itself in his palm full of water. (13) Satyavrata, the master of Dravidades'a, oh son of Bharata, threw the little fish together with the handful of water into the river. (14) It appealed to the most compassionate king and said: 'The river water is very frightening, oh protector of the poor, why do you throw Me, so small, before the voracious aquatics, oh King?'

(15) Most pleased to show it his personal favor he, not knowing that he held the form of Matsya, decided to offer the fish protection. (16) The great leader hearing its pitiable words, mercifully put it in a jug full of water and took it home. (17) But in a single night it expanded in the water of that pot so that it, not feeling comfortably anymore, said to the great leader: (18) 'I do not like it here, this water pot is a difficult place for Me, please consider a more spacious refuge, where I can live with pleasure.'

(19) He then took it out and placed it in a bucket full of water, but thrown in there it grew within a second to the length of three cubits [2.10 meters]. (20) [It said:] 'This bucket is unsuitable for Me to live happily, please give Me, who sought your shelter, a much bigger place!'

(21) The king removed it from there and threw it in a lake that was immediately filled by its body when He instantly grew into a gigantic fish. (22) 'This water you have put  Me in does not accommodate Me, oh King, I am a large aquatic, you better put Me in an expanse of water that suits Me more permanently.'

(23) Thus requested he brought Matsya to bigger and bigger reservoirs, until he finally threw the giant into the ocean. (24) Thrown there it said to the king: 'In this place there are dangerous, powerful aquatics that will eat Me, oh hero, please do not put Me in here!'

(25) Thus perplexed by the fish that addressed him in agreeable terms he said: 'Who are You who in this fish form is bewildering us? (26) I never before saw or heard about a powerful aquatic like You. Your Lordship has expanded to hundreds of miles in a single day! (27) You must be the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, the imperishable Lord Nârâyana who has assumed the form of a marine animal to show all living beings Your mercy. (28) I offer You, the Most Excellent Personality of Maintenance, Creation and Destruction, my obeisances. Oh Almighty One, unto surrendered devotees like us You are the Supreme Lord and the Highest Destination. (29) Everything You do in Your incarnations is the cause of the welfare of all living beings. I would like to know for what purpose Your Lordship has assumed this form. (30) As opposed to [the worship of] others who are differently embodied [the demigods], one never worships Your lotus feet in vain, oh Lotus petal-eyed One. For You are the friend, the dearest and original Soul of everyone, You who now have manifested that so very wonderful body for us, Your devotees.'

(31) S'rî S'uka said: 'Having spoken thus, that master of man, Satyavrata, was addressed by the Master of the Universe, the Lord, who, as the one love of the devotees desiring to benefit them, at the end of the yuga for the sake of enjoying His pastimes had assumed the form of a fish in the water of the great flood. (32) The Supreme Lord said: 'On the seventh day from today, oh subduer of the enemy, this threefold creation of earth, ether and heaven will be flooded by the all-devouring ocean. (33) When the three worlds are submerged in the waters of annihilation, a very big boat will appear that I have sent you. (34-35) Collect all higher and lower kinds of herbs and seeds before you get on that huge boat together with the seven sages and all kinds of living beings. Then travel undaunted the ocean of the flood with no other illumination but the light of the rishis. (36) When that boat is being tossed about by the very powerful wind, you can attach it to My horn with the great serpent [Vâsuki], for I will stand by your side. (37) I will drag you and the sages on the boat, with Me over the waters throughout the night of Brahmâ, oh My best one. (38) With My support, upon your inquiries, in your heart the full knowledge will be revealed of My glory that is known as the Supreme Brahman [see also B.G. 5: 16, 10: 11].'

(39) After thus having instructed the king the Lord disappeared from there. The king then awaited the time about which the Master of the Senses had spoken. (40) The saintly king spread kus'a grass with its tips pointed to the east and then sat down, facing northwards, to meditate on the feet of the Lord who had assumed the form of a fish. (41) Thereafter he saw huge clouds in the sky incessantly showering rain. The ocean swell and began to flood on all sides so that the earth was inundated. (42) Meditating on what the Lord had said he saw a boat coming near. He got up, took the herbs and creepers and got on board together with the leading brahmins. (43) The sages were very pleased and said to him: 'Oh King meditate on Kes'ava ['the Lord with the black curls'], for He will save us from this impending danger and set things right.'

(44) After the king had meditated, the Lord appeared in the great ocean as a golden fish measuring a million yojanas that had a single horn. (45) Glad that he, like the Lord had told him before, could fasten the boat to the horn using the serpent for a rope, he praised the Killer of Madhu. (46) The king said: 'Since time immemorial ignorance about the knowledge of the soul has been the root cause of  the material bondage that is accompanied by so much suffering and hardship. By the grace of the process of devotional service, with the help of those near to You, You can be attained, oh Lord who are our supreme spiritual master [see 7.5: 23-24]. (47) He who is born accepts in his desire to be happy unwisely different bodies as a result of his karma [see 4.29 and B.G. 4: 5, 6: 45 and 16: 20], but his profit minded plans bring him only grief. That karmic matter is cleared up by rendering service to Him, our guru in the core of the heart, by whom the hard knot of the impure mind is cut. (48) Just like a piece of ore in touch with fire gets purified, a person by that service can get rid of all impurity resulting from his ignorance, so that he can revive his original identity [his mode of service or varna]. May He who is Inexhaustible in this respect be our Supreme Controller, the Guru of the Gurus. (49) Neither the demigods, nor the gurus, nor other people individually or else group wise, are able to offer but one ten-thousandth of Your grace. I therefore surrender to Him, the Lord, to You who are the shelter. (50) Like blind being led by the blind, ignorant people accept an unenlightened person, a fool, as their guru. We, desirous to know our destination, have accepted Your Lordship, whose knowledge is like the [rising] sun, as our spiritual master, as the seer of all that can be seen. (51) An ordinary person following the directions of an ordinary man is of surrender to impermanent matters as the goal of life. He is [thus] of an ignorance that cannot be overcome but with the help of Your eternal, pure knowledge, by which a person very soon achieves his original position [of service]. (52) You are the dearmost well-wisher, the controller, the original soul and spiritual master of all worlds. You are the spiritual knowledge, the fulfillment of all desires and the One situated in the heart who cannot be known by people who, in the grip of lust, have a foggy intelligence. (53) May by my surrender to You, the Greatest of All who is worshiped by the gods, the Supreme Controller for understanding the real purpose of life, may by my surrender to the light of Your meaningful words of instruction, the knots [by illusion] fixed in the heart be severed, oh Supreme Lord. Please tell me about Your refuge [see also B.G. 4: 34].'

(54) S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, the Original Person who had assumed the form of a fish, thus being addressed, explained the Absolute Truth to the king while they were moving through the great ocean. (55) By the analytical [sânkhya, matter versus spirit] perspective of [bhakti] yoga, practically applied in a collection of divine old stories, the holy king Satyavrata thus got acquainted with the mysteries of self-realization in all its forms. (56) Sitting in the boat, he, together with the sages, free from doubt listened to the knowledge of self-realization [âtma-tattva] and the eternal absolute spirit [brahma] as explained by the Supreme Lord. (57) When the inundation had ended the Lord, after [thus] having put an end to the darkness that was caused by an unenlightened Hayagrîva, handed over all the Vedic records to Brahmâ the moment Brahmâ woke up. (58) King Satyavrata, enlightened in the spiritual knowledge and its practical wisdom, by the mercy of Lord Vishnu became in this period the Manu called Vaivasvata.

(59) When someone hears this great story describing Satyavrata, the saintly king, and the Matsya incarnation with the one horn, he will be delivered from all reactions to sin. (60) Anyone who daily chants and discusses the personal appearance of the Lord, will have success in all his endeavors and will return home, back to Godhead. (61) I offer my obeisances to Him, the Cause of All Causes, He who, posing as a great fish, explained to Satyavrata the Vedic knowledge and put an end to the darkness of the Daitya, He who returned the Vedic records that were stolen from the mouths of Lord Brahmâ who lay deep asleep in the waters of the flood.'


Thus the eighth Canto of the S'rîmad Bhâgavatam ends named: Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations. 

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Third revised edition, loaded September 30, 2019.

 

 

 

Previous Aadhar edition and Vedabase links:

Text 1

The honorable king said: 'Oh powerful one, I would like to hear the story about that first incarnation of the Lord whose deeds are so wonderful, in which He poses as a fish [or Matsya, see also 2.7: 12, 5.18: 24-28 and 6.9: 23].
The honorable king said: 'O powerful one, I would like to hear the story about that first incarnation of the Lord so wonderful in His deeds in which He is simply understood by the illusory form of a fish [or Matsya, see also 2.7: 12, 5.18: 24-28 and 6.9: 23].  (Vedabase)

 

Text 2-3

For what purpose did the Controller accept the form of a fish? It is a form that is certainly not the most favorable one in the world. To operate in that slow mode must be as hard as the life of someone tormented by the laws of karma! Oh mighty sage, please tell us, as good as you can, everything about the activities of Lord Uttamas'loka ['the One glorified'], for to hear about Him makes the entire world happy [B.G. 4: 7].'

For what purpose accepted the Controller the form of a fish, a form that is certainly not the most favorable one in the world; to operate in that slow mode of matter must be as hard as the life of someone under the laws of karma! O mighty sage, please tell us as good as you can everything about the ways of Lord Uttamas'loka ['the One glorified'], for to hear about Him is what makes the whole world happy [B.G. 4: 7].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 4

S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: "The mighty son of Vyâsadeva thus, upon the request of Vishnurâta ['Vishnu-sent'], told him everything there was to know about the deeds of Lord Vishnu in the form of a fish.

S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: "Thus being questioned by Vishnurâta ['Vishnu-sent'] told the so mighty son of Vyâsadeva him everything there was to know about the deeds of Vishnu in the form of a fish. (Vedabase)

 

Text 5

S'rî S'uka said: 'For the sake of the cows, the brahmins, the enlightened souls, the devotees as also the Vedic literatures, the Supreme Controller assumes in His incarnations [all kinds of] forms for the purpose of protecting the dharma.

S'rî S'uka said: 'For the cows, the brahmins, the enlightened, the devotees and even the vedic literatures accepts the Supreme Controller in His incarnations forms to safeguard the dharma and the purpose of life. (Vedabase)

  

Text 6

Even though the Lord assumes forms among higher or lower living beings, He [Himself], just like moving air, is therewith not of a higher or lower nature, for being intent on the basic qualities, He is transcendental to those modes.

Lower or higher among the living entities is the Controller [Himself], just like the air moving here and there, not higher or lower with the forms He assumes; willing by the modes He is beyond the modes. (Vedabase)

 

Text 7

During the previous day of Brahmâ [the previous kalpa] there was at its end an inundation because of which all the existing worlds were submerged in the ocean, oh King.

In the past day of Brahmâ [kalpa], at its end was there consequently an inundation and were all the worlds existing submerged in the ocean, o King. (Vedabase)

 

Text 8

At the moment Brahmâ felt sleepy and wanted to lie down to rest, the Vedic knowledge most powerfully emanated from his mouth. Hayagrîva who happened to be nearby, then took it away [see 2.7: 11 and 5.18: 6].

At the time wanted Brahmâ to lie down feeling sleepy and emanated from his mouth most powerfully the vedic knowledge that by Hayagrîva who happened to be nearby was seized [see 2.7: 11 and 5.18: 6]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 9

Understanding Hayagrîva's Dânava course of action the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller, [thereupon] assumed the form of a fish.

Understanding that dânava course of action of Hayagrîva assumed the Supreme Lord Hari, the Controller, the form of a fish. (Vedabase)

 

Text 10

When that happened there was some saintly king called Satyavrata, a great personality and devotee of Lord Nârâyana, who in his penances had developed the austerity of subsisting on water only.

When that took place was there some saintly king named Satyavrata, a great personality and devotee of Lord Nârâyana, who in his penances was of the austerity of only subsisting on water. (Vedabase)

 

Text 11

During this day of Brahmâ he, as a son of the sun god, became known as S'râddhadeva. Lord Hari entrusted to him the position of Manu [see 6.6: 40 and 8.13: 1].

In the present great day of Brahmâ was he someone who, as a son of the sungod, became known by the name of S'râddhadeva and by Lord Hari was entrusted the position of Manu [see 6.6: 40 and 8.13: 1]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 12

When he one day was sitting at the Kritamâlâ river, performing oblations of water, some sort of a small fish manifested itself in his palm full of water.

When he one day sat at the Kritamâlâ river, performing oblations of water, manifested in his palm full of water some kind of a small fish itself. (Vedabase)

  

Text 13

Satyavrata, the master of Dravidades'a, oh son of Bharata, threw the little fish together with the handful of water into the river.

Satyavrata, the master of Dravidades'a, o son of Bharata, threw the little fish with the handful of water into the river. (Vedabase)

 

Text 14

It appealed to the most compassionate king and said: 'The river water is very frightening, oh protector of the poor, why do you throw Me, so small, before the voracious aquatics, oh King?'

Appealing to the greatly compassionate King said it: 'The riverwater is very scary, o protector of the poor, why do you throw Me, small as I am, before the avaricious aquatics, o King?' (Vedabase)

 

Text 15

Most pleased to show it his personal favor he, not knowing that he held the form of Matsya, decided to offer the fish protection.

Very pleased to show it his personal favor decided he, not knowing that he held the form of Matsya, to offer the fish protection. (Vedabase)

  

Text 16

The great leader hearing its pitiable words, mercifully put it in a jug full of water and took it home.

The great ruler hearing its pitiable words mercifully put it in the water of a jug and took it home. (Vedabase)

 

Text 17

But in a single night it expanded in the water of that pot so that it, not feeling comfortably anymore, said to the great leader:

But expanding in the water of that pot could it one day not find itself comfortable anymore and said it thus to the great leader:  (Vedabase)

 

Text 18

'I do not like it here, this water pot is a difficult place for Me, please consider a more spacious refuge, where I can live with pleasure.'

'In this jug I have it difficult, I cannot live in a place like this, please consider a more spacious residence where I can live with pleasure.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 19

He then took it out and placed it in a bucket full of water, but thrown in there it grew within a second to the length of three cubits [2.10 meters]. 

He then took it out and placed it in a large well, but thrown in there grew it within a second out to the length of three cubits [2.10 meters]. (Vedabase)

 

Text 20

[It said:] 'This bucket is unsuitable for Me to live happily, please give Me, who sought your shelter, a much bigger place!'

[It said:] 'This tank isn't suitable for Me to live happily in, please give Me, who took to your shelter, a place much bigger!'  (Vedabase)

 

Text 21

The king removed it from there and threw it in a lake that was immediately filled by its body when He instantly grew into a gigantic fish.

The king removing it from there threw it, o King, in a lake that was immediately covered by its body when He instantly grew out into a gigantic fish. (Vedabase)

 

Text 22

'This water you have put Me in does not accommodate Me oh King, I am a large aquatic, you better put Me in an expanse of water that suits Me more permanently.'

'This water you put Me in does not accommodate Me, o King, I'm a large aquatic, better put Me somehow in an expanse of water that suits Me more permanently'. (Vedabase)

 

Text 23

Thus requested he brought Matsya to bigger and bigger reservoirs, until he finally threw the giant into the ocean.

Thus requested brought he Matsya to bigger and bigger reservoirs until he finally threw the giant into the ocean.  (Vedabase)

  

Text 24

Thrown there it said to the king: 'In this place there are dangerous, powerful aquatics that will eat Me, oh hero, please do not put Me in here!'

Thrown there it said to the king: 'In this place there are dangerous aquatics that all too powerful will eat Me, o hero, therefore you shouldn't throw Me in here!' (Vedabase)

 

Text 25

Thus perplexed by the fish that addressed him in agreeable terms he said: 'Who are You who in this fish form is bewildering us?

Thus perplexed by the fish addressing him with sweet words said he: 'Who are You in this fish-form bewildering us? (Vedabase)

 

Text 26

I never before saw or heard about a powerful aquatic like You. Your Lordship has expanded to hundreds of miles in a single day!

I've never seen or heard of such an energetic aquatic like You are: Your Lordship has in a day expanded to hundreds of miles!  (Vedabase)

 

Text 27

You must be the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, the imperishable Lord Nârâyana who has assumed the form of a marine animal to show all living beings Your mercy.

You having assumed the form of a marine animal, must be the Supreme Lord in person, the inexhaustible Lord Nârâyana present here to show Your mercy to all living entities. (Vedabase)

 

Text 28

I offer You, the Most Excellent Personality of Maintenance, Creation and Destruction, my obeisances. Oh Almighty One, unto surrendered devotees like us You are the Supreme Lord and the Highest Destination.

I offer You, the Most Excellent Personality of Maintenance, Creation and Destruction my obeisances; unto surrendered devotees like us are You indeed the Supreme Master, the Highest Destination, o Almighty One. (Vedabase)

 

Text 29

Everything You do in Your incarnations is the cause of the welfare of all living beings. I would like to know for what purpose Your Lordship has assumed this form.

Everything You do in Your incarnations is the cause of the welfare of all living beings; I'd like to know for what purpose Your Lordship has assumed this form. (Vedabase)

 

Text 30

As opposed to [the worship of] others who are differently embodied [the demigods], one never worships Your lotus feet in vain, oh Lotus petal-eyed One. For You are the friend, the dearest and original Soul of everyone, You who now have manifested that so very wonderful body for us, Your devotees.'

Never can the worship of the lotus feet of You, Lotuspetal-eyed One, run futile: You are the friend, the dearmost, the original soul namely of everyone, of all divinities differently embodied and spiritually fixed and before our very eyes have You now manifested that so very wonderful body.' (Vedabase)


Text 31

S'rî S'uka said: 'Having spoken thus, that master of man, Satyavrata, was addressed by the Master of the Universe, the Lord, who, as the one love of the devotees desiring to benefit them, at the end of the yuga for the sake of enjoying His pastimes had assumed the form of a fish in the water of the great flood.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Speaking there thus was that master of man, Satyavrata, addressed by the Master of the Universe, the Lord who as the one love of the devotees at the end of the yuga, for the sake of enjoying His pastimes, in the water of the great flood had assumed the form of a fish. (Vedabase)

 

Text 32

The Supreme Lord said: 'On the seventh day from today, oh subduer of the enemy, this threefold creation of earth, ether and heaven will be flooded by the all-devouring ocean.

The Supreme Lord said: 'From the seventh day from today onward will, o subduer of the enemies, this threefold creation of earth, ether and heaven be flooded by the all-devouring ocean. (Vedabase)

 

Text 33

When the three worlds are submerged in the waters of annihilation, a very big boat will appear that I have sent you.

When the three worlds are submerged in the waters of annihilation, can you at that time count on the appearance of a very big boat by Me sent to you. (Vedabase)

 

Text 34-35

Collect all higher and lower kinds of herbs and seeds before you get on that huge boat together with the seven sages and all kinds of living beings. Then travel undaunted the ocean of the flood with no other illumination but the light of the rishis.

To prepare for that time please with the [wisdom of the] seven sages collect all higher and lower kinds of herbs and seeds and surround yourself with all kinds of beings getting on that huge boat to travel undaunted the ocean of the flood with no other illumination but the effulgence of the rishis. (Vedabase)

 

Text 36

When that boat is being tossed about by the very powerful wind, you can attach it to My horn with the great serpent [Vâsuki], for I will stand by your side.

Attach with the great serpent [Vâsuki] that boat, being tossed about by the very powerful wind, to My horn, for I will be near you. (Vedabase)

 

Text 37

I will drag you and the sages on the boat, with Me over the waters throughout the night of Brahmâ, oh My best one.

I will drag you, together with the sages on the boat, along over the waters throughout the night of Brahmâ, my best one.  (Vedabase)

 

Text 38

With My support, upon your inquiries, in your heart the full knowledge will be revealed of My glory that is known as the Supreme Brahman [see also B.G. 5: 16, 10: 11].'

By my support and counsel will in your heart in full the knowledge be revealed of My glory that is known as the Supreme Brahman [see also B.G. 5: 16, 10: 11].' (Vedabase)

 

Text 39

After thus having instructed the king the Lord disappeared from there. The king then awaited the time about which the Master of the Senses had spoken.

After instructing the king thus disappeared the Lord from there. The king then awaited the time that the Master of the Senses spoke to him about. (Vedabase)

 

Text 40

The saintly king spread kus'a grass with its tips pointed to the east and then sat down, facing northwards, to meditate on the feet of the Lord who had assumed the form of a fish.

Spreading kus'a grass with its tips to the east sat the saintly king facing northwards to meditate upon the feet of the Lord who had appeared in the form of a fish. (Vedabase)

 

Text 41

Thereafter he saw huge clouds in the sky incessantly showering rain. The ocean swell and began to flood on all sides so that the earth was inundated.

With huge incessantly showering clouds in the sky saw he how next the ocean overflowed on all sides and therewith more and more inundated the earth. (Vedabase)

 

Text 42

Meditating on what the Lord had said he saw a boat coming near. He got up, took the herbs and creepers and got on board together with the leading brahmins.

Remembering what the Lord had said saw he a boat coming near which he, taking the herbs and creepers with him, boarded with the learned of rule. (Vedabase)

 

Text 43

The sages were very pleased and said to him: 'Oh King meditate on Kes'ava ['the Lord with the black curls'], for He will save us from this impending danger and set things right.'

The wise very pleased said to him: 'O King meditate upon Kes'ava ['the Lord with the black curls'] for He is the one who will save us from the impending danger and will set things right.' (Vedabase)

 

Text 44

After the king had meditated, the Lord appeared in the great ocean as a golden fish measuring a million yojanas that had a single horn.

He being meditated by the king thereafter appeared in the great ocean as a countless yojanas big golden fish with one horn. (Vedabase)

 

Text 45

Glad that he, like the Lord had told him before, could fasten the boat to the horn using the serpent for a rope, he praised the Killer of Madhu.

Pleased to fasten the boat onto that horn using the great serpent for a rope the way the Lord before had advised, satisfied he the Killer of Madhu. (Vedabase)


Text 46

The king said: 'Since time immemorial ignorance about the knowledge of the soul has been the root cause of  the material bondage that is accompanied by so much suffering and hardship. By the grace of the process of devotional service, with the help of those near to You, You can be attained, oh Lord who are our supreme spiritual master [see 7.5: 23-24].

The king said: 'From time immemorial has ignorance about the knowledge of the soul been the root cause of the material bondage that is accompanied by so much suffering and hardship; with the grace of God can, supported by the teacher of example, in liberation [in devotional service, see 7.5: 23-24] He, our Supreme Lord and Spiritual Master, be attained. (Vedabase)


Text 47

He who is born accepts in his desire to be happy unwisely different bodies as a result of his karma [see 4.29 and B.G. 4: 5, 6: 45 and 16: 20], but his profit minded plans bring him only grief. That karmic matter is cleared up by rendering service to Him, our guru in the core of the heart, by whom the hard knot of the impure mind is cut.

The one born, unwise accepts as a result of his karma different bodies in his desire to be happy [see 4.29 and B.G. 4: 5, 6: 45 and 16: 20], but his profit-minded plans bring him only grief; by rendering service is that matter cleared up and is with Him, our guru in the core of the heart, the hard knot of the mind of untruth cut. (Vedabase)

 

Text 48

Just like a piece of ore in touch with fire gets purified, a person by that service can get rid of all impurity resulting from his ignorance, so that he can revive his original identity [his mode of service or varna]. May He who is Inexhaustible in this respect be our Supreme Controller, the Guru of the Gurus.

By that service is, just like a piece of ore in touch with fire is purified, a person able to give up all the impurity that he has out of ignorance and can he revive his original identity [vocation or varna]; let Him, who in that sense is the One Inexhaustible, be our Supreme Controller, the Guru of Gurus. (Vedabase)

 

Text 49

Neither the demigods, nor the gurus, nor other people individually or else group wise, are able to offer but one ten-thousandth of Your grace. I therefore surrender to Him, the Lord, to You who are the shelter.

Others together or individually or even the demigods and the gurus cannot even match one ten-thousandth of Your grace; let me surrender unto Him, the Controller, unto You, that shelter. (Vedabase)

 

Text 50

Like blind being led by the blind, ignorant people accept an unenlightened person, a fool, as their guru. We, desirous to know our destination, have accepted Your Lordship, whose knowledge is like the [rising] sun, as our spiritual master, as the seer of all that can be seen.

The way someone blind accepts the lead of a blind man does one similarly unwise take a person lacking in knowledge for a guru; Your Lordship appearing like the sun as the seer of all that can be seen are accepted as the guru of us, I, the enlightened person who knows his destination. (Vedabase)


Text 51

An ordinary person following the directions of an ordinary man is of surrender to impermanent matters as the goal of life. He is [thus] of an ignorance that cannot be overcome but with the help of Your eternal, pure knowledge, by which a person very soon achieves his original position [of service].

By what a common man instructs an ordinary person is he of surrender to the impermanent as the goal of life and to an ignorance that cannot be overcome, but by the eternal uncontaminated knowledge of You achieves a person very soon his constitutional position. (Vedabase)

 

Text 52

You are the dearmost well-wisher, the controller, the original soul and spiritual master of all worlds. You are the spiritual knowledge, the fulfillment of all desires and the One situated in the heart who cannot be known by people who, in the grip of lust, have a foggy intelligence.

You are of all worlds the dearmost well-wisher, the controller, original soul and spiritual master, the spiritual knowledge, the fulfillment of all desires and the One situated in the heart who by people caught in greed that are of a dim intelligence cannot be known. (Vedabase)

 

Text 53

May by my surrender to You, the Greatest of All who is worshiped by the gods, the Supreme Controller for understanding the real purpose of life, may by my surrender to the light of Your meaningful words of instruction, the knots [by illusion] fixed in the heart be severed, oh Supreme Lord. Please tell me about Your refuge [see also B.G. 4: 34].'

May by my surrendering to the exalted One that You are, the Greatest of All worshiped by the gods, the Supreme Controller for understanding the real purpose of life; by the light of Your meaningful words of instruction, the knots fixed in the heart be cut through, o Supreme Lord, please tell me where I belong [see also B.G. 4: 34].' (Vedabase)
 

Text 54

S'rî S'uka said: 'The Supreme Lord, the Original Person who had assumed the form of a fish, thus being addressed, explained the Absolute Truth to the king while they were moving through the great ocean.

S'rî S'uka said: 'Thus being addressed explained the Supreme Lord, the Original Person who had assumed the form of Matsya, unto the king the Absolute Truth as they were moving in the great ocean. (Vedabase)

 

Text 55

By the analytical [sânkhya, matter versus spirit] perspective of [bhakti] yoga, practically applied in a collection of divine old stories, the holy king Satyavrata thus got acquainted with the mysteries of self-realization in all its forms.

Thus got the holy king Satyavrata acquainted with the old stories, the Purânas; the vedic instructions, the Samhitâs; the transcendental, the divya; the analytic, the sânkhya; the linking of oneself to the divine with a unified [Krishna- or natural] consciousness, the yoga; the practical of living it, the kriya; and all the mysteries of selfrealization in all its forms. (Vedabase)

 

Text 56

Sitting in the boat, he, together with the sages, free from doubt listened to the knowledge of self-realization [âtma-tattva] and the eternal absolute spirit [brahma] as explained by the Supreme Lord.

Sitting in the boat with the sages, heard he thus about the traditional lore of the science of selfrealization the way it, beyond doubt, was explained by the Supreme Lord. (Vedabase)

 

Text 57

When the inundation had ended the Lord, after [thus] having put an end to the darkness that was caused by an unenlightened Hayagrîva, handed over all the Vedic records to Brahmâ the moment Brahmâ woke up.

When the last inundation had ended handed the Lord over to Brahmâ, in order to reawaken him, all the vedic records after having put an end to the darkness caused by Hayagrîva. (Vedabase)

 

Text 58

King Satyavrata, enlightened in the spiritual knowledge and its practical wisdom, by the mercy of Lord Vishnu became in this period the Manu called Vaivasvata.

King Satyavrata enlightened in the spiritual knowledge and its practical wisdom became in this period indeed Vaivasvata Manu by the mercy of Lord Vishnu. (Vedabase)

 

Text 59

When someone hears this great story describing Satyavrata the saintly king and the Matsya incarnation with the one horn, he will be delivered from all reactions to sin.

When someone hears the description of this great story of Satyavrata the saintly king and the Matsya incarnation with the one horn, is he delivered from all reactions to sin. (Vedabase)

 

Text 60

Anyone who daily chants and discusses the personal appearance of the Lord, will have success in all his endeavors and will return home, back to Godhead.

Whomever glorifies daily the incarnation of the Lord will have success in all his endeavors and will return home, back to Godhead. (Vedabase)

 

Text 61

I offer my obeisances to Him, the Cause of All Causes, He who, posing as a great fish, explained to Satyavrata the Vedic knowledge and put an end to the darkness of the Daitya, He who returned the Vedic records that were stolen from the mouths of Lord Brahmâ who lay deep asleep in the waters of the flood.'

I offer my obeisances unto Him the Cause of All Causes, who posing as a great fish, for Satyavrata's sake explained the vedic knowledge and put an end to the daitya darkness in giving back the vedic records that were stolen from the mouths of Lord Brahmâ who lay deep asleep in the waters of the flood.'  (Vedabase)

 

 

 

 

Creative Commons
                License
The text and audio are offered under the conditions of the
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
The firstpicture is a digitally enhanced painted mural relief of Matsya.
The second picture is a vintage painting of Matsya saving the children of mankind (
original).
Production:
Filognostic Association of The Order of Time


  

 

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