King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.24.46–53 — Satyavrata's prayers to the fish incarnation during the devastation
The King said: By the grace of the Lord, those who have lost their self-knowledge since time immemorial, and who because of this ignorance are involved in a material, conditional life full of miseries, obtain the chance to meet the Lord’s devotee. I accept that Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme spiritual master.
In hopes of becoming happy in this material world, the foolish conditioned soul performs fruitive activities that result only in suffering. But by rendering service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from such false desires for happiness. May my supreme spiritual master cut the knot of false desires from the core of my heart.
One who wants to be free of material entanglement should take to the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and give up the contamination of ignorance, involving pious and impious activities. Thus one regains his original identity, just as a block of gold or silver sheds all dirt and becomes purified when treated with fire. May that inexhaustible Supreme Personality of Godhead become our spiritual master, for He is the original spiritual master of all other spiritual masters.
Neither all the demigods, nor the so-called gurus nor all other people, either independently or together, can offer mercy that equals even one ten-thousandth of Yours. Therefore I wish to take shelter of Your lotus feet.
As a blind man, being unable to see, accepts another blind man as his leader, people who do not know the goal of life accept someone as a guru who is a rascal and a fool. But we are interested in self-realization. Therefore we accept You, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as our spiritual master, for You are able to see in all directions and are omniscient like the sun.
A materialistic so-called guru instructs his materialistic disciples about economic development and sense gratification, and because of such instructions the foolish disciples continue in the materialistic existence of ignorance. But Your Lordship gives knowledge that is eternal, and the intelligent person receiving such knowledge is quickly situated in his original constitutional position.
My Lord, You are the supreme well-wishing friend of everyone, the dearmost friend, the controller, the Supersoul, the supreme instructor and the giver of supreme knowledge and the fulfillment of all desires. But although You are within the heart, the foolish, because of lusty desires in the heart, cannot understand You.
O Supreme Lord, for self-realization I surrender unto You, who are worshiped by the demigods as the supreme controller of everything. By Your instructions, exposing life’s purpose, kindly cut the knot from the core of my heart and let me know the destination of my life.
About King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya
King Satyavrata had found a tiny fish in his palms while offering water in the Kṛtamālā river, and watched it grow until it filled the ocean. At the devastation he ties his boat to the golden fish's horn with the serpent Vāsuki as rope, and offers these eight verses. Verses 50–51 warn that people who choose a guru without knowing the goal of life are like the blind leading the blind; the Lord alone is the true guru and friend.
- Composer
- Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa
- Songbook
- Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Prayers
- Mood
- Verses
- 8
Frequently asked
Who wrote King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya?
King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya was composed by Krsna Dvaipayana Vyasa. It appears in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Prayers.
What is the meaning of King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya?
The King said: By the grace of the Lord, those who have lost their self-knowledge since time immemorial, and who because of this ignorance are involved in a material, conditional life full of miseries, obtain the chance to meet the Lord’s devotee. I accept that Supreme Personality of Godhead as the supreme spiritual master.
How many verses does King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya have?
King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya has 8 verses.
Can I download King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya as a PPT or PDF?
Yes. A ready-to-display slide deck for King Satyavrata's Prayers to Lord Matsya — verse and translation on each slide — is available to download in both PowerPoint (.pptx) and PDF formats from this page, for use in kirtan or temple programs.