Text 3] Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation 225

Sri-rdjovdca
bhagavani chrotum icchami
harer adbhuta-karmanah
avatara-katham ddyam
mayd-matsya-vidambanam

Sri-raja uvaca—King Pariksit said; bhagavan—O most powerful;
Srotum—to hear; icchami—I desire; hareh—of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, Hari; adbhuta-karmanah—whose activities are wonderful;
avatdra-katham—pastimes of the incarnation; ddyaém—first; mdyd-
matsya-vidambanam—which is simply an imitation of a fish.

TRANSLATION

Maharaja Pariksit 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 Sukadeva Gosvami, 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 incarna-
tions of the Lord.

TEXTS 2-3

TITS BY ae TATA |
TIS TA wR AAT I II
Care AT at TMT aaHETe |
TMA «= - aaaTRaATAeA I! 31

yad-artham adadhdd riparn
matsyam loka-jugupsitam

tamah-prakrti-durmarsam
karma-grasta ivesvarah
