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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 8, Ch. 24]
etan no bhagavan sarvaṁ yathāvad vaktum arhasi uttamaśloka-caritaṁ sarva-loka-sukhāvaham
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.
PURPORT
Parikṣit Mahārāja's question to Śukadeva Gosvāmī was based on this principle stated by the Lord Himself in  Bhagavad-gītā  (4.7):
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I