Text 61] Matsya, the Lord’s Fish Incarnation 275

PURPORT

Here is a summary of Satyavrata’s meeting with the fish incarnation of
Lord Visnu. Lord Visnu’s purpose was to take back all the Vedic
literatures from the demon Hayagriva and restore them to Lord Brahma.
Incidentally, by His causeless mercy, the Lord spoke with Satyavrata.
The word satyavratanam is significant because it indicates that those on
the level of Satyavrata can take knowledge from the Vedas delivered by
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Whatever is spoken by the
Supreme Lord is accepted as Veda. As stated in Bhagavad-gita, vedanta-
krd veda-vit: the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the compiler of all
Vedic knowledge, and He knows the purport of the Vedas. Therefore,
anyone who takes knowledge from the Supreme Personality of Godhead,
Krsna, or from Bhagavad-gita as it is, knows the purpose of the Vedas
(vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah). One cannot understand Vedic
knowledge from the veda-vdda-ratas, who read the Vedas and
misconstrue their subject matter. One has to know the Vedas from the
Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Twenty-
fourth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “Matsya, the Lord’s

Fish Incarnation.”

—This commentation has been finished in our New Delhi center today,
the first of September, 1976, the day of Radhastami, by the grace of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and the dcaryas. Srila Narottama dasa
Thakura says, tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vdsa janame janame
haya, ei abhilsa. I am attempting to present Srimad- -Bhagavatam in the
English language by the order of my spiritual master, Srimad
Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and by his grace the work of trans-
lation is gradually progressing, and the European and American devotees
who have joined the Krsna consciousness movement are helping me con-
siderably. Thus we have expectations of finishing the great task before
my passing away. All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

END OF THE EIGHTH CANTO
