॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Sunday, 26 February 2023 - Srimad Bhagavatam VIII.24 Conclusion- Satyavrata is instructed to save all life forms in the cataclysmic deluge by carrying them along with Saptarishis in a boat provided by Bhagavan and steered by the Matsya Avatara.
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एवं विमोहितस्तेन वदता वल्गुभारतीम् | तमाह को भवानस्मान् मत्स्यरूपेण मोहयन् ॥
नैवं वीर्यो जलचरो दृष्टोऽस्माभिः श्रुतोऽपि च | यो भवान् योजनशतमह्नाभिव्यानशे सरः ॥
नूनं त्वं भगवान् साक्षाद्धरिर्नारायणोऽव्ययः | अनुग्रहाय भूतानां धत्से रूपं जलौकसाम् ॥
नमस्ते पुरुषश्रेष्ठ स्थित्युत्पत्यप्ययेश्वर | भक्तानां नः प्रपन्नानां मुख्यो ह्यात्मगतिर्विभो ॥
सर्वे लीलावतारास्ते भूतानां भूतिहेतवः | ज्ञातुमिच्छाम्यदो रूपं यदर्थं भवता धृतम् ॥
न तेऽरविन्दाक्ष पदोपसर्पणं मृषा भवेत्सर्वसुहृत्प्रियात्मनः |
यथेतरेषां पृथगात्मनां सतामदीदृशो यद्वपुरद्भुतं हि नः ॥
Translation (Prabhupada)
After hearing these sweet words from Bhagavan in the form of a fish, Rajarishi Satyavrata, being bewildered, asked Him:
“Who are You, sir? You simply bewilder us.
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.My Lord, You are certainly the inexhaustible Bhagavan Narayana Sri Hari. It is to show Your mercy to the living entities that You have now assumed the form of an aquatic, a Surreal Fish.Oh my Lord, master of creation, maintenance and annihilation, Oh best of enjoyers, Lord Vishnu, You are the leader and destination of surrendered devotees like us. Therefore, let me offer my respectful obeisance unto You.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.Oh my Lord, possessing eyes like the petals of a lotus, the worship of the gods, who are in the bodily concept of life, is fruitless in all respects. But because You are the supreme friend and dearmost Paramatma of everyone, worship of Your lotus feet is never useless. You have therefore manifested Your form as a fish."
श्रीशुक उवाच
इति ब्रुवाणं नृपतिं जगत्पतिः सत्यव्रतं मत्स्यवपुर्युगक्षये |
विहर्तुकामः प्रलयार्णवेऽब्रवीच्चिकीर्षुरेकान्तजनप्रियः प्रियम् ॥
श्रीभगवानुवाच
सप्तमेऽद्यतनादूर्ध्वमहन्येतदरिन्दम | निमङ्क्ष्यत्यप्ययाम्भोधौ त्रैलोक्यं भूर्भुवादिकम्
त्रिलोक्यां लीयमानायां संवर्ताम्भसि वै तदा | उपस्थास्यति नौः काचिद्विशाला त्वां मयेरिता ॥
त्वं तावदोषधीः सर्वा बीजान्युच्चावचानि च | सप्तर्षिभिः परिवृतः सर्वसत्त्वोपबृंहितः ॥
आरुह्य बृहतीं नावं विचरिष्यस्यविक्लवः | एकार्णवे निरालोके ऋषीणामेव वर्चसा ॥
दोधूयमानां तां नावं समीरेण बलीयसा | उपस्थितस्य मे शृङ्गे निबध्नीहि महाहिना ॥
अहं त्वामृषिभिः साकं सहनावमुदन्वति | विकर्षन् विचरिष्यामि यावद्ब्राह्मी निशा प्रभो ॥
मदीयं महिमानं च परं ब्रह्मेति शब्दितम् | वेत्स्यस्यनुगृहीतं मे सम्प्रश्नैर्विवृतं हृदि ॥
इत्थमादिश्य राजानं हरिरन्तरधीयत | सोऽन्ववैक्षत तं कालं यं हृषीकेश आदिशत् ॥
आस्तीर्य दर्भान् प्राक्कूलान् राजर्षिः प्रागुदङ्मुखः | निषसाद हरेः पादौ चिन्तयन् मत्स्यरूपिणः ॥
ततः समुद्र उद्वेलः सर्वतः प्लावयन् महीम् | वर्धमानो महामेघैर्वर्षद्भिः समदृश्यत ॥
ध्यायन् भगवदादेशं ददृशे नावमागताम् | तामारुरोह विप्रेन्द्रैरादायौषधिवीरुधः ॥
तमूचुर्मुनयः प्रीता राजन् ध्यायस्व केशवम् | स वै नः सङ्कटादस्मादविता शं विधास्यति ॥
सोऽनुध्यातस्ततो राज्ञा प्रादुरासीन्महार्णवे | एकशृङ्गधरो मत्स्यो हैमो नियुतयोजनः ॥
निबध्य नावं तच्छृङ्गे यथोक्तो हरिणा पुरा | वरत्रेणाहिना तुष्टस्तुष्टाव मधुसूदनम् ॥
Sage Shuka said: "When King Satyavrata spoke in this way, Bhagavan, 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."
Bhagavan said:
"Oh King, who can subdue your enemies, on the seventh day from today the three worlds — Bhu, Bhuva and Suva — will all merge into the water of inundation.When all the three worlds merge into the water, a large boat sent by Me will appear before you.Thereafter, Oh King, you shall collect all types of herbs and seeds and load them on that great boat. Then, accompanied by the seven rishis 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 rishis.Then, as the boat is tossed about by the powerful winds, attach the vessel to My horn by means of the great serpent Vasuki, for I shall be present by your side.Pulling the boat, with you and all the rishis in it, Oh King, I shall travel in the water of devastation until the night of Lord Brahma’s slumber is over.You will be thoroughly advised and favoured by Me, and because of your inquiries, everything about My glories, which are known as Parabrahman, will be manifest within your heart. Thus you will know everything about Me."
After thus instructing Rajarishi Satyavrata, Bhagavan immediately disappeared. Then King Satyavrata began to wait for that time of which the Lord had instructed.
After spreading kusha 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, Vishnu, who had assumed the form of a fish.
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.
As Satyavrata remembered the order of Bhagavan, he saw a boat coming near him. Thus he collected herbs and creepers, and, accompanied by Saptarishis, he got aboard the boat.
The Rishis, being pleased with Rajarishi Satyavrata, said to him:
"Oh King, please meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Keśava. He will save us from this impending danger and arrange for our well-being."
Then, while Rajarishi Satyavrata 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.
Following the instructions given already by Bhagavan, Rajarishi Satyavrata 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.
राजोवाच
अनाद्यविद्योपहतात्मसंविदस्तन्मूलसंसारपरिश्रमातुराः |
यदृच्छयेहोपसृता यमाप्नुयुर्विमुक्तिदो नः परमो गुरुर्भवान् ॥
जनोऽबुधोऽयं निजकर्मबन्धनः सुखेच्छया कर्म समीहतेऽसुखम् |
यत्सेवया तां विधुनोत्यसन्मतिं ग्रन्थिं स भिन्द्याद्धृदयं स नो गुरुः ॥
यत्सेवयाग्नेरिव रुद्ररोदनं पुमान् विजह्यान्मलमात्मनस्तमः |
भजेत वर्णं निजमेष सोऽव्ययो भूयात्स ईशः परमो गुरोर्गुरुः ॥
न यत्प्रसादायुतभागलेशमन्ये च देवा गुरवो जनाः स्वयम् |
कर्तुं समेताः प्रभवन्ति पुंसस्तमीश्वरं त्वां शरणं प्रपद्ये ॥
अचक्षुरन्धस्य यथाग्रणीः कृतस्तथा जनस्याविदुषोऽबुधो गुरुः |
त्वमर्कदृक्सर्वदृशां समीक्षणो वृतो गुरुर्नः स्वगतिं बुभुत्सताम् ॥
जनो जनस्यादिशतेऽसतीं मतिं यया प्रपद्येत दुरत्ययं तमः |
त्वं त्वव्ययं ज्ञानममोघमञ्जसा प्रपद्यते येन जनो निजं पदम् ॥
त्वं सर्वलोकस्य सुहृत्प्रियेश्वरो ह्यात्मा गुरुर्ज्ञानमभीष्टसिद्धिः |
तथापि लोको न भवन्तमन्धधीर्जानाति सन्तं हृदि बद्धकामः ॥
तं त्वामहं देववरं वरेण्यं प्रपद्य ईशं प्रतिबोधनाय |
छिन्ध्यर्थदीपैर्भगवन् वचोभिर्ग्रन्थीन् हृदय्यान् विवृणु स्वमोकः ॥
Rajarishi Satyavrata 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 Bhagavan as the supreme spiritual master.In the hope of becoming happy in this material world, the foolish conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that result only in suffering. But by rendering service to Bhagavan, 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.One who wants to be free of material entanglement should take to the service of Bhagavan 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.Neither all the gods, nor the so-called gurus nor all other people, either independently or together, can offer mercy that equals even one ten-thousandth of Yours. Therefore I wish to take shelter of Your lotus feet.As a blind man, being unable to see, accepts another blind man as his leader, people who do not know the goal of life accept someone as a guru who is a rascal and a fool. But we are interested in self-realization. Therefore we accept You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as our spiritual master, for You are able to see in all directions and are omniscient like the sun.A materialistic so-called guru instructs his materialistic disciples about economic development and sense gratification, and because of such instructions, the foolish disciples continue in the materialistic existence of ignorance. But Your Lordship gives knowledge that is eternal, and the intelligent person receiving such knowledge is quickly situated in his original constitutional position.My Lord, You are the supreme well-wishing friend of everyone, the dear most friend, the controller, the Paramatma, the supreme instructor and the giver of supreme knowledge and the fulfilment of all desires. But although You are within the heart, the foolish, because of lusty desires in the heart, cannot understand You.Oh Supreme Lord, for self-realization I surrender unto You, who are worshipped by the gods as the supreme controller of everything. By Your instructions, exposing life’s purpose, kindly cut the knot from the core of my heart and let me know the destination of my life."
श्रीशुक उवाच
इत्युक्तवन्तं नृपतिं भगवानादिपूरुषः | मत्स्यरूपी महाम्भोधौ विहरंस्तत्त्वमब्रवीत् ॥
पुराणसंहितां दिव्यां साङ्ख्ययोगक्रियावतीम् | सत्यव्रतस्य राजर्षेरात्मगुह्यमशेषतः ॥
अश्रौषीदृषिभिः साकमात्मतत्त्वमसंशयम् | नाव्यासीनो भगवता प्रोक्तं ब्रह्म सनातनम् ॥
अतीतप्रलयापाय उत्थिताय स वेधसे | हत्वासुरं हयग्रीवं वेदान् प्रत्याहरद्धरिः ॥
स तु सत्यव्रतो राजा ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुतः | विष्णोः प्रसादात्कल्पेऽस्मिन्नासीद्वैवस्वतो मनुः ॥
सत्यव्रतस्य राजर्षेर्मायामत्स्यस्य शार्ङ्गिणः | संवादं महदाख्यानं श्रुत्वा मुच्येत किल्बिषात् ॥
अवतारो हरेर्योऽयं कीर्तयेदन्वहं नरः | सङ्कल्पास्तस्य सिध्यन्ति स याति परमां गतिम् ॥
प्रलयपयसि धातुः सुप्तशक्तेर्मुखेभ्यः श्रुतिगणमपनीतं प्रत्युपादत्त हत्वा |
दितिजमकथयद्यो ब्रह्म सत्यव्रतानां तमहमखिलहेतुं जिह्ममीनं नतोऽस्मि ॥
॥ इत्यष्टमस्कन्धः समाप्तः ॥
Sage Shuka continued: When Satyavrata had thus prayed to Bhagavan, who had assumed the form of a fish, the Lord, while moving in the water of inundation, explained to him the Absolute Truth.
Bhagavan thus explained to King Satyavrata the spiritual science known as Sankhya-yoga, the science by which one distinguishes between matter and spirit [called differently, it is Bhakti Yoga], along with the instructions contained in the Puranas [the old histories] and the Vedas. The Lord has explained Himself in all this literature.
While sitting in the boat, King Satyavrata, accompanied by the Rishis, listened to the instructions of Bhagavan in regard to self-realization. These instructions were all from the eternal Vedic literature. Thus Rajarishi Satyavrata and sages had no doubt about the Absolute Truth.
At the end of the last inundation [during the period of Svāyambhuva Manu] Bhagavan had killed the demon named Hayagriva and delivered all the Vedic literature to Lord Brahma when Lord Brahma awakened from his epochal slumber.
King Satyavrata was illuminated with all Vedic knowledge by the mercy of Lord Vishnu, and in this period he has now taken birth as Vaivasvata Manu, the son of the sun god.
This story concerning the great King Satyavrata and the fish incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vishnu, is a great transcendental narration. Anyone who hears it is delivered from the reactions of sinful life.
One who narrates this description of the Matsya incarnation and King Satyavrata will certainly have all his ambitions fulfilled, and he will undoubtedly return home, back to Godhead.
I offer my respectful obeisance unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who pretended to be a gigantic fish, who restored the Vedic literature to Lord Brahma when Lord Brahma awakened from sleep, and who explained the essence of Vedic literature to King Satyavrata and the great saintly persons.
The end of the Eighth Skandha
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
