# Lord Matsya > [!summary] > *Lord Matsya, the fish incarnation, is the first of the daśāvatāra. He appeared to save the Vedas from the demon Hayagrīva and to protect King Satyavrata (later Vaivasvata Manu) during the universal inundation at the end of the previous millennium.* ## The Fish Incarnation ![[cc/adi/5/78#translation]] ![[sb/1/3/15#purport]] ## Saving the Vedas ![[sb/5/18/25#purport]] ![[sb/8/24/9#purport]] ## Protecting Satyavrata ![[sb/8/24/1#purport]] ![[sb/8/24/44#purport]] ## Related Articles - [[wiki/articles/lord-kurma|Lord Kūrma]] — The tortoise incarnation - [[wiki/articles/lord-varaha|Lord Varāha]] — The boar incarnation - [[wiki/articles/the-six-types-of-avataras|The six types of avatāras]] — Understanding incarnations ## From the Index - [[index/entries/matsya-lord|Matsya, Lord]] — Complete references - [[index/entries/incarnations-of-god|Incarnations of God]] — All avatāras