brāhmo naimittiko layaḥ
āsīd atīta-kalpānte
brāhmo naimittiko layaḥ
samudropaplutās tatra
lokā bhūr-ādayo nṛpa
O King! At the end of the previous day of Brahmā, when Brahmā slept, periodic annihilation took place, and the three worlds were covered by the water of the ocean.
The following verses show that Matsya, like Varāha, appeared twice. Brāhmaḥ means the period when Brahmā sleeps. This is a periodic (daily) destruction, not the final destruction.
|| 8.24.8 ||
kālenāgata-nidrasya
dhātuḥ śiśayiṣor balī
mukhato niḥsṛtān vedān
hayagrīvo 'ntike 'harat
At the end of Brahmā's day, when sleepy Brahmā fell asleep, the strong demon named Hayagrīva stole the Vedas emanating from his mouth.
The Vedas came out of his mouth when Brahmā was asleep and were moving about outside. The demon who was situated nearby stole them by his power of yoga.
|| 8.24.9 ||
jñātvā tad dānavendrasya
hayagrīvasya ceṣṭitam
dadhāra śapharī-rūpaṁ
bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ
Understanding the acts of the great demon Hayagrīva, the Supreme Lord assumed the form of a fish.
In the form of a fish he killed Hayagrīva. It is understood from later verses that the theft took place the beginning of the Svāyambhuva Manvantara (in the morning). The Lord took this form to benefit his devotees like Brahmā, since only the form of Matsya could save the Vedas. This is the first appearance of Matsya.
|| 8.24.10 ||
tatra rāja-ṛṣiḥ kaścin
nāmnā satyavrato mahān
nārāyaṇa-paro 'tapat
tapaḥ sa salilāśanaḥ
(During the Cākṣuṣa-manvantara), a great king named Satyavrata, a devotee of Nārāyaṇa, dedicated to Matsya, performed austerities by subsisting only on water.
Matsya appeared again in order to give mercy to his devotee Satyavrata. Tatra means “filled with devotion for his deity Matsya.”
|| 8.24.11 ||
yo 'sāv asmin mahā-kalpe
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