Do the younger generation even know what the Dasavatars are? In an age dominated by modern education and Westernized narratives, many probably don’t. But in a civilisation like Bharat—one of the world’s oldest and richest cultures—shouldn’t our youth be made aware of this profound aspect of our spiritual heritage? The Dasavatars are not just mythological tales; each Avatar represents deep philosophical truths, divine interventions, and timeless values that have shaped our collective consciousness for millennia. They are milestones in the cultural and spiritual evolution of our nation—lessons in dharma, balance, and cosmic order. As a publication committed to upholding Sanatana Dharma and its enduring wisdom, we are proud to feature this piece by the erudite U. Lakshman Rao, a scholar deeply rooted in the Vedas and Upanishads. His insights are both enlightening and essential reading in today’s context. — Editor
U Lakshman Rao
The concept of Dasavatara refers to the ten principal incarnations of Lord Vishnu, one of the supreme deities in Hinduism. Vishnu is part of the divine trinity (Trimurti), alongside Brahma, the creator, and Shiva, the destroyer. These avatars manifest during times of cosmic imbalance to restore righteousness (Dharma), protect the virtuous, and destroy evil.
The incarnations of Vishnu are not random or arbitrary. Each one arises in response to specific disturbances in the cosmic order—be it demonic threats or the decline of spiritual evolution. These ten avatars appear in a sequence that mirrors the progressive development of life and civilization. Among these, we now reflect upon the Matsyavatara, the first of the ten.
In ancient times, there lived a pious king named Satyavrata, the ruler of the Dravida kingdom. He was a great devotee of Vishnu and performed intense penance (tapas) in his honor. One morning, as he was offering his prayers to the Sun God (Aditya), he found a small fish in the water cupped in his hands. When he attempted to return it to the river, the fish spoke in a human voice:
“O King, please do not leave me in the water. Bigger fish will devour me. Protect me.”
Moved by compassion, the king placed the fish in his kamandalu (water pot) and took it to his hermitage. The next morning, the fish had grown too large for the pot and requested a bigger space. The king transferred it to a pond, but again it quickly outgrew its space. In amazement, the king moved the fish to a river, but by the end of the day, it had grown even larger. Finally, he took it to the ocean.
As he released it into the vast ocean, the fish addressed the king again:
“O King, you have protected me thus far. But now you leave me in the deep ocean where I am no safer. Is this your decision, or has some divine force guided you?”
At that moment, King Satyavrata realized that this was no ordinary fish—it was a divine form of Lord Vishnu himself. He bowed in reverence, circumambulated the fish, and prayed for enlightenment. Lord Vishnu, in his Matsya (fish) form, revealed himself and said:
“In seven days, a great deluge (Jalapralaya) will engulf the entire universe. The three worlds will be submerged in water, and nothing will remain visible except the ocean. Gather all types of seeds, herbs, and plants, and board a divine boat along with the seven great sages (Saptarishis).
To stabilize the boat amidst the raging currents, use Vasuki, the thousand-hooded serpent, as a rope. Tie one end to the boat and the other to the great horn on my head. I have taken this form to aid in the preservation and eventual re-creation of the worlds during Brahma’s night of dissolution.”
King Satyavrata obeyed the instructions. As the day of the flood approached, ominous signs appeared. The skies turned dark, the sun and moon disappeared, and torrential rains fell. Oceans overflowed and covered the earth. The only light that remained was the glow of the Saptarishis.
Then, a radiant boat appeared, shining like the sun. The king, with all the collected seeds, herbs, and sages, boarded the vessel. With devotion, he tied Vasuki to the boat and secured the other end to the horn of the colossal fish. Satyavrata then entered deep meditation, keeping his focus on Lord Hari.
Meanwhile, during this cosmic dissolution, the four Vedas, which are the foundational scriptures of creation, slipped from the creator Brahma’s grasp and fell into the ocean. A demon named Hayagreeva stole them and hid deep in the ocean’s abyss. Sensing the danger, Lord Vishnu pursued him, fought a fierce battle, and ultimately slew the demon, retrieving the Vedas.
When Brahma awoke and realized the Vedas were missing, he was greatly disturbed. He prayed to Lord Vishnu, who returned the sacred texts with a word of caution, explaining the events that had transpired.
King Satyavrata, moved by divine grace, prayed:
“O Lord Hari, knower of all hearts, sun and moon are your eyes. Free me from the cycle of birth and death, and grant me liberation.”
Pleased with his devotion and sincerity, Lord Vishnu blessed the king with profound knowledge of the cosmos. This same King Satyavrata would later be reborn as Vaivasvata Manu, also known as Shraddhadeva, the seventh Manu, who would guide humanity after the deluge.
Thus, the purpose of the Matsyavatara was to protect the seeds of life and the sacred knowledge of creation, ensuring the continuity of the world. In every avatar, Lord Vishnu appears to re-establish cosmic order and uphold the principles of Dharma.
