Stories From The Bhagawatham - Matsya Avatar

 

There was a king named Satyavrata who was a just ruler and a pious devotee of Lord Narayana. One day, he was performing his daily bathing rituals on the banks of the river Kritamala. He had taken up some water in his palms and was offering the same to the sky when he saw a tiny fish floating in the water in his palms. He dropped the fish into the river.

To his amazement, the fish started speaking. “Have pity on me. I am very small and I am afraid that the big fish in the river will eat me up. Please give me shelter.” Satyavrata felt compassion for the fish and collected it inside his kamandalu. He took the fish to his home.

The next morning, he saw that the fish had grown in size. “The kamandalu is too small for me.” The fish said. “Please put me somewhere spacious.”

Satyavrata put the fish in a large pot. But in a very short while, the fish grew again in size and asked for a bigger vessel. The king put the fish in a pond and the same thing happened there too. No matter how large a water-body the king found for the fish, it grew immediately and sought a larger place. The king finally took the fish to the sea and dropped it in.

“Why have you put me inside the sea? The big fish will now attack me!” The fish lamented.

Satyavrata smiled. “In a very short period of time, you have grown to large proportions. You are no ordinary fish. I know you are Lord Narayana. But I do not know for what purpose you have taken this form and chosen to come before me. Please enlighten me.”

Lord Narayana, still in the form of the fish, spoke. “Seven days from now, the entire world will be submerged under water. Mahaprayala approaches. When the waters submerge the earth, you will see a boat floating towards you. Enter the boat. Carry with you the seeds for some plants. Take the seven Rishis also with you. There will be utter darkness around you but do not be afraid, the glow from the Rishis’ knowledge will lighten up the path. The angry waters may toss you hither and thither but do not be scared. I will be in the waters with you. When you see me coming, tie the boat to one of my horns with the help of the serpent Vasuki. I will be in the water for the duration of one single night of Brahma and you also will be there with me.” Saying this, the fish vanished.

Satyavrata spent the next few days in silent meditation and contemplation. On the seventh day, he saw dark clouds forming in the sky. Soon it started raining very heavily. The rivers swelled and took over the earth which was submerging fast. At a distance, Satyavrata saw the promised boat floating towards him. Along with the seeds required for new growth on earth and accompanied by the seven Rishis, Satyavrata got inside the boat. The Rishis kept chanting the name of the Lord and told the king, “Fear not. The Lord will get us through this deluge.”

Even as they were chanting, they saw an enormous golden fish coming towards them. How blessed were these people to see the glorious Matsya Avatar of Maha Vishnu!

Satyavrata tied the boat to one of the horns of the fish using Vasuki. The angry waters tossed the boat fiercely but the Lord’s presence protected them from harm. The king bowed to the Lord. “With your grace, the human beings who are tossed in the tempest of life, attain liberation. You guide them into light and away from darkness. I pray to you to teach us the knowledge which will help us to attain salvation.”

Lord Narayana imparted Brahmavidya to Satyavrata and the Rishis. In His avatar as Matsya, He also fought with Hayagriva who had stolen the Vedas, and returned the Vedas to Brahma at the end of the Mahapralaya.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaaya!