Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 8 - Chapter 1 - Verse 1


Sanskrit:

श्रीराजोवाचभगवञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छामि हरेरद्भ‍ुतकर्मण: ।अवतारकथामाद्यां मायामत्स्यविडम्बनम् ॥ १ ॥

ITRANS:

śrī-rājovācabhagavañ chrotum icchāmiharer adbhuta-karmaṇaḥavatāra-kathām ādyāṁmāyā-matsya-viḍambanam

Translation:

Mahārāja Parīkṣit said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is eternally situated in His transcendental position, yet He descends to this material world and manifests Himself in various incarnations. His first incarnation was that of a great fish. O most powerful Śukadeva Gosvāmī, I wish to hear from you the pastimes of that fish incarnation.

Purport:

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is all-powerful, yet He accepted the form of an uncommon fish. This is one of the ten original incarnations of the Lord.