236 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 24

tam—unto the fish; dtmanah—personal; anugraha-artham—to show
favor; pritya—very much pleased; matsya-vapuh-dharam—the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who had assumed the form of a fish;
ajanan—without knowledge of this; raksana-arthaya —just to give pro-
tection; Sapharyah—of the fish; sah—the King; manah—mind;
dadhe—decided.

TRANSLATION

To please himself, King Satyavrata, not knowing that the fish
was the Supreme Personality of Godhead, decided with great
pleasure to give the fish protection.

PURPORT

Here is an example of giving service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead even without knowledge. Such service is called ajridta-sukrti.
King Satyavrata wanted to show his own mercy, not knowing that the fish
was Lord Visnu. By such unknowing devotional service, one is favored
by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Service rendered to the
Supreme Lord, knowingly or unknowingly, never goes in vain.

TEXT 16
TA raat TTRTATAT aT HEtafa: |
HoITS Prada Tass APTA 112 F

tasya dinataramm vakyam
Gsrutya sa mahipatih

kalasapsu nidhayainam
daydlur ninya asramam

tasyah—of the fish; dina-taram—pitiable; vaékyam—words;
dsrutya—hearing; sah—that; mahi-patih—the King; kalasa-apsu—in
the water contained in the water jug; nidhaya—taking; endm—the fish;
daydluh—merciful; ninye—brought; asramam—to his residence.
