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Chapter 24: Matsya, the Lord's Fish Incarnation

Verse 1 of 59
SB 8.24.1

श्रीराजोवाच भगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि हरेरद्भुतकर्मणः अवतारकथामाद्यां मायामत्स्यविडम्बनम्

śrī-rājovāca bhagavañ chrotum icchāmi harer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥ avatāra-kathām ādyāṁ māyā-matsya-viḍambanam

Synonyms

śrī-rājā uvācaKing Parīkṣit said; bhagavanO most powerful; śrotumto hear; icchāmiI desire; hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari; adbhuta-karmaṇaḥwhose activities are wonderful; avatāra-kathāmpastimes of the incarnation; ādyāmfirst; māyā-matsya-viḍambanamwhich 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.

Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-powerful, yet He accepted the form of an uncommon fish. This is one of the ten original incarnations of the Lord.

Verse 1 of 59
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