hatvāsuraṁ hayagrīvaṁ
utthitāya sa vedhase
hatvāsuraṁ hayagrīvaṁ
vedān pratyāharad dhariḥ
At the end of the last inundation, at the beginning of Svāyambhuva Manvantara, the Supreme Lord killed the demon named Hayagrīva and delivered the Vedas to Lord Brahmā when Lord Brahmā awoke from sleep.
The purposes of the two appearances of Matsya at different times are here described. Atīta-pralayāpāya means “at the beginning of Svāyambhuva Manvantara.”
|| 8.24.58 ||
sa tu satyavrato rājā
jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ
viṣṇoḥ prasādāt kalpe 'sminn
āsīd vaivasvato manuḥ
King Satyavrata, endowed with knowledge and realization by the mercy of the Lord, became Vaivasvata Manu in the present Manvantara.
The word tu indicates a different subject, an event occurring during Cākṣuṣa Manvantara. This corresponds to the previous description:
rūpaṁ sa jagṛhe mātsyaṁ cākṣuṣodadhi-samplave |
nāvy āropya mahī-mayyām apād vaivasvataṁ manum ||
The Lord accepted the form of Matsya during the flood at the time of Cākṣuṣa Manvantara. He protected Vaivasvata Manu by putting him on a boat made of the earth. SB 1.3.15
The purpose of this avatāra was to give knowledge. This is explained by the phrase “endowed with knowledge and realization by the Lord’s mercy.”
|| 8.24.59 ||
satyavratasya rājarṣer
māyā-matsyasya śārṅgiṇaḥ
saṁvādaṁ mahad-ākhyānaṁ
śrutvā mucyeta kilbiṣāt
If one hears this great story in the form of a discussion between the great King Satyavrata and the fish incarnation with a horn, he will be delivered from the reactions of sinful life.
|| 8.24.60 ||
avatāraṁ harer yo 'yaṁ
kīrtayed anvahaṁ naraḥ
saṅkalpās tasya sidhyanti
sa yāti paramāṁ gatim
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