03.185
The story of the fish.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then the Pāṇḍava again said to Mārkaṇḍeya: "Please tell me here the story of Manu Vaivasvata." (03-185-1)
Mārkaṇḍeya said.
O king, the son of Vivasvat, who was a supreme seer and possessed of great splendor, became (among men) a tiger, equal in brilliance to Prajāpati. (03-185-2)
By vigor, radiance, prosperity, and especially by austerity, Manu surpassed his father and his own grandfather. (03-185-3)
In Viśālā at Badarī, the king practiced very great and intense austerity, standing on one leg with arms raised. (03-185-4)
With his head bent down and with unblinking eyes, he steadily performed fierce penance for ten thousand years at that time. (03-185-5)
At a certain time, as he was performing austerities wearing wet garments and matted hair, having come to the bank of the Virini, the fish spoke these words to him. (03-185-6)
O blessed one, I am a small fish; I have fear of the strong. Therefore, O virtuous one, you ought to protect me from the other fishes. (03-185-7)
The strong fish indeed devour the weak fish in particular, as this is the eternal mode of life established for us. (3-185-8)
Therefore, as I am especially sinking in the great flood of fear, you ought to save me; I am acting in return for your favor to me. (03-185-9)
Hearing the fish's words, Manu, son of Vivasvat, was filled with compassion and himself took the fish in his hand. (03-185-10)
Vaivasvata Manu brought the fish to the edge of the water and, in Aliñjara, placed it there; it shone with a radiance like the rays of the moon. (03-185-11)
There the fish, being most highly honored, grew, O King; and Manu especially showed him the affection one has for a son. (03-185-12)
Then, after much time had passed, that fish became very great. He could no longer remain in the waters of the Aliñjara, it is said. (03-185-13)
Then, having seen Manu, the fish again addressed him: "O venerable one, kindly grant me another place today." (03-185-14)
Then Manu, having lifted the fish from Āliñjara, at that time, led the great fish to a large pond. (03-185-15)
There, Manu, the conqueror of enemy cities, also threw him in. Then that fish grew again for many years. (03-185-16)
There was a tank two yojanas long and one yojana wide. O lotus-eyed one, in that pond, that fish was not present together (with others). O son of Kunti, O lord of men, the fish in that pond could not even move about. (3-185-17)
The fish, having seen Manu, again addressed him: "O venerable, O virtuous one, lead me to the queen of oceans, O lord. I will stay there in the Gaṅgā, or wherever else you think best, O dear one." (03-185-18)
Thus addressed, Manu—being the master and venerable one—led the fish to the river Ganga, and there, Acyuta himself threw him in. (03-185-19)
The fish grew there for some time, O subduer of enemies. Then, having seen Manu again, the fish spoke these words. (03-185-20)
O lord, I am not able to move in the Ganges due to its vastness. Please lead me quickly to the ocean and be gracious, O blessed one. (03-185-21)
Manu himself then lifted the fish from the water of the Gaṅgā and brought it to the ocean, O Pārtha, and there released it. (03-185-22)
Even though the fish was very large, at that time he was pleasing to Manu's mind, easily handled as desired, and indeed pleasant to the touch and smell. (03-185-23)
When the fish was cast into the ocean by Manu, then, as if smiling, he spoke these words to him. (03-185-24)
Indeed, all the protection you have made for me, O revered one, is especially complete; but now, hear from me what action is timely for you to perform. (03-185-25)
O revered one, soon this whole world of immobile and mobile beings on earth, O greatly fortunate one, will surely go to dissolution. (03-185-26)
The time for the complete cleansing of the worlds has arrived; therefore, today I am informing you of that which is supremely beneficial to you. (03-185-27)
For all moving and unmoving beings, whether they move or do not move, the most dreadful time has come. (03-185-28)
O great sage, you should have a firm ship made, equipped with a strong framework. Together with the seven sages, you should board it there. (03-185-29)
He should place all the seeds, as previously described by me, on that boat in a well-protected manner and in portions. (03-185-30)
O beloved of sages, stand on the boat and wait for me then. I, Śṛṅgī, the ascetic whom you should recognize, will come. (03-185-31)
Thus, this task which you asked me to do, I am going. Also, O master, there is nothing to be greatly suspicious about in this word of yours and mine. (03-185-32)
He addressed the fish, saying, "Thus I will do." Then both, having granted each other permission, departed as they wished. (03-185-33)
Then Manu, O subduer of enemies, as instructed by the fish, took all the seeds and floated on the ocean with the auspicious boat, O hero, by the force of the great waves. (03-185-34)
Manu reflected upon the fish, O king of the earth. And the fish, having understood his thought, O conqueror of enemy cities, Śṛṅgī came there quickly at that time, O foremost of the Bharatas (03-185-35)
O king among men, having seen him, Manu beheld the horned fish in the ocean, towering like a mountain, in the very form as described. (03-185-36)
Then Manu, O best of men, placed the rope made of banyan fiber on the horn on the fish's head. (03-185-37)
O conqueror of enemy cities, the fish, being bound by that rope, swiftly dragged the boat in the salt water. (03-185-38)
He, O king of men, crossed the ocean in that boat, as if dancing amidst the waves and roaring with the waters. (03-185-39)
O conqueror of enemy cities, that boat, being agitated by great winds in the vast ocean, spun about like a fickle and intoxicated woman. (03-185-40)
O foremost among men, there appeared neither earth nor the cardinal nor the intermediate directions; all that existed was only water, along with sky and heaven. (03-185-41)
O best of the Bharatas, when the world had thus become confused, the seven sages, Manu, and the fish were seen together. (03-185-42)
Thus, O King, for many years, the fish then untiringly dragged that boat in that accumulation of water. (03-185-43)
Then, O bull among men, the fish drew the boat to the highest peak of the Himalayas, O descendant of Kuru. (03-185-44)
Then, at that time, the fish said to the sages with a gentle smile: "Tie the boat to this peak of the Himalaya without delay." (03-185-45)
O bull among the Bharatas, then, the sages quickly fastened the boat there on the peak of Himavat, having heard the words of Matsya. (03-185-46)
O Kaunteya, that supreme peak of Himavat named Naubandhana is famous even today—know that, O best of the Bharatas. (03-185-47)
Then Nimiṣa (Viṣṇu) said to those assembled sages: I am Prajāpati, I am Brahmā; none higher than me can be attained. In the form of a fish, you too have been saved by me from danger. (3-185-48)
Also, by Manu, all beings—including the gods, asuras, and humans—were to be created: all worlds and everything that moves and does not move. (3-185-49)
Through very intense austerity, (knowledge) will manifest; by my favor, in the creation of beings, delusion will not arise. (03-185-50)
Having spoken thus, the fish vanished in an instant. And Manu, the son of Vivasvat, desirous of creating offspring, himself became confused about creation and thereafter performed great austerity. (3-185-51)
O best of the Bharatas, Manu, endowed with great austerity, then began to create all beings directly and properly. (03-185-52)
Thus, this Purāṇa named Matsya has been proclaimed. I have narrated this account, which removes all sins. (03-185-53)
Whoever always listens to this account of Manu's deeds from the beginning, that man, happy and fulfilled in all accomplishments, will go to the heavenly world. (03-185-54)
