TEXTS 23
yad-artham adadhad rupam
matsyam loka-jugupsitam
tamah-prakrti-durmarsam
karma-grasta ivesvarah
etan no bhagavan sarvam
yathavad vaktum arhasi
uttamasloka-caritam
sarva-loka-sukhavaham
SYNONYMS
yat-arthamfor what purpose; adadhataccepted; rupamform; matsyamof a fish; loka-jugupsitamwhich is certainly not very favorable in this world; tamahin the mode of ignorance; prakrtisuch behavior; durmarsamwhich is certainly very painful and condemned; karma-grastahone who is under the laws of karma; ivalike; isvarahthe Supreme Personality of Godhead; etatall these facts; nahunto us; bhagavanO most powerful sage; sarvameverything; yathavatproperly; vaktum arhasikindly describe; uttamasloka-caritamthe pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sarva-loka-sukha-avahamby hearing of which everyone becomes happy.
TRANSLATION
What was the purpose for which the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted the abominable form of a fish, exactly as an ordinary living being accepts different forms under the laws of karma? The form of a fish is certainly condemned and full of terrible 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 Maharajas question to Sukadeva Gosvami was based on this principle stated by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gita (4.7):
Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligionat that time I descend Myself. The Lord appears in each incarnation to save the world from irreligious principles and especially to protect His devotees (paritranaya sadhunam). Vamanadeva, for example, appeared to save the devotee Bali Maharaja. Similarly, when the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepted the abominable form of a fish, He must have done so to favor some devotee. Pariksit Maharaja was eager to know about the devotee for whom the Supreme Lord accepted this form.

Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/8/24/2-3

Previous: SB 8.24.1     Next: SB 8.24.4

If you Love Me Distribute My Books -- Srila Prabhupada