226 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 24
etan no bhagavan sarvari
yathdavad vaktum arhasi
uttamasloka-caritam
sarva-loka-sukhavaham
yat-artham—for what purpose; adadhat—accepted; ruipam—form;
métsyam—of a fish; loka-jugupsitam—which is certainly not very
favorable in this world; tamah—in the mode of ignorance; prakrti—
such behavior; durmarsam—which is certainly very painful and con-
demned; karma-grastah—one who is under the laws of karma; iva—
like; iSvarah—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; etat—all these
facts; nah—unto us; bhagavan—O most powerful sage; sarvam—
everything; yathavat—properly; vaktum arhasi—kindly describe; ut-
tamasloka-caritam—the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of God-
head; sarva-loka-sukha-Gvaham—by hearing of which everyone be-
comes happy.
TRANSLATION
What was the purpose for which the Supreme Personality of
Godhead accepted the abominable form of a fish, exactly as an or-
dinary living being accepts different forms under the laws of
karma? The form of a fish is certainly condemned and full of ter-
rible 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
Pariksit Maharaja’s question to Sukadeva Gosvami was based on this
principle stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (4.7):
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O de-
scendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion —at that time I
