Srimad Bhagavatam 8.24.1-3

[makarand]

TEXT 1

śrī-rājovāca

bhagavañ chrotum icchāmi

harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ

avatāra-kathām ādyāṁ

māyā-matsya-viḍambanam

SYNONYMS

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.

TEXTS 2–3

yad-artham adadhād rūpaṁ

mātsyaṁ loka-jugupsitam

tamaḥ-prakṛti-durmarṣaṁ

karma-grasta iveśvaraḥ

etan no bhagavan sarvaṁ

yathāvad vaktum arhasi

uttamaśloka-caritaṁ

sarva-loka-sukhāvaham

SYNONYMS

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.