Vivaswata's son, a raja — and a sage of mighty fame, King of men, the first great fathers — in his glory equalled he, In his might and kingly power — Manu, and in earthly bliss, And in wonder-working penance — sire and grandsire far surpassed.
With his arms on high outstretching — wrought the sovereign of men, Steadily on one foot standing — penance rigorous and dread, With his downward head low-drooping — with his fixed, unwavering eyes, Dreed he thus his awful penance — many a long and weary year.
To the penitent with tresses — streaming loose, and wet, and long, By the margin of Wirini — thus the fish began to speak: “Blessed! lo, the least of fishes — of the mighty fish in dread, Wilt thou not from death preserve me — thou that all thy vows fulfill'st?
Since the strongest of the fishes — persecute the weaker still, Over us impends for ever — our inevitable fate. Ere I sink, if thou wilt free me — from th’ extremity of dread, Meet return can I compensate — when the holy deed is done.”
Speaking thus the fish when heard he — full of pity all his heart, In his hand that fish king Manu — son of Vivaswata took. Brought the son of Vivaswata — to the river shore the fish, Cast it in a crystal vessel — like the moonshine clear and bright.
“Rapid grew that fish, O raja — tended with such duteous care, Cleaved to him the heart of Manu — as to a beloved son. Time rolled on, and larger, larger — ever waxed that wonderous fish, Nor within that crystal vessel — found he longer space to move.”
Spake again the fish to Manu — as he saw him, thus he spake: “O all prosperous! O all gentle!— bring me to another place.” Then the fish from out the vessel — blessed Manu took again; And with gentle speed he bare him,— Manu, to a spacious lake.
There the conqueror of cities,— mighty Manu, cast him in. Still he grew, that fish so wondrous — many a circling round of years. Three miles long that lake expanded — and a single mile its breadth, Yet that fish with eyes like lotus — there no longer might endure;
Nor, O sovereign of the Vaisyas!— might that lake his bulk contain. Spake again that fish to Manu — as he saw him, thus he spake: “Bring me now, O blest and holy!— to the Ganga, ocean's bride, Let me dwell in her wide waters — yet, O loved one, as thou wilt,
Be it so; whate'er thy bidding,— murmur would beseem me ill, Since through thee, O blest and blameless!— to this wondrous bulk I've grown.” Thus addressed, the happy Manu — took again the fish, and bore To the sacred stream of Ganga — and himself he cast him in.
Still it grew, as time rolled onward — tamer of thy foes! that fish. Spake again that fish to Manu — as he saw him, thus he spake: “Mightiest! I can dwell no longer — here in Ganga's narrow stream; Best of men! once more befriend me — bear me to the ocean swift.”
Manu's self from Ganga's water — took again that wondrous fish, And he brought him to the ocean,— with his own hand cast him in. Brought by Manu to the ocean — very large that fish appeared, But not yet of form unmeasured,— spread delicious odours round.
But that fish by kingly Manu — cast into the ocean wide, In these words again bespake him — and he smiled as thus he spake: “Blessed! thou hast still preserved me — still my every wish fulfilled, When the awful time approaches — hear from me what thou must do.
In a little time, O blessed!— all this firm and seated earth, All that moves upon its surface — shall a deluge sweep away. Near it comes, of all creation — the ablution day is near; Therefore what I now forewarn thee — may thy highest weal secure.
All the fixed and all the moving — all that stirs, or stirreth not, Lo, of all the time approaches — the tremendous time of doom. Build thyself a ship, O Manu — strong, with cables well prepared, And thyself, with the seven Sages — mighty Manu enter in.
All the living seeds of all things — by the Brahmins named of yore, Place thou first within thy vessel — well secured, divided well. From thy ship keep watch, O hermit — watch for me, as I draw near; Horned shall I swim before thee — by my horn thou'lt know me well.
This the work thou must accomplish,— I depart; so fare thee well — Over these tumultuous waters — none without mine aid can sail. Doubt thou not, O lofty minded!— of my warning speech the truth.” To the fish thus answered Manu — “All that thou requir'st, I'll do.”
Thus they parted, of each other — mutual leave when they had ta'en, Manu, raja! to accomplish — all to him the fish had said. Taking first the seeds of all things — launched he forth upon the sea; On the billowy sea, the prudent — in a beauteous vessel rode.
Manu of the fish bethought him;— conscious of his thought the fish, Conqueror of hostile cities!— with his horn came floating by. King of men, the born of Manu!— Manu saw the sea-borne fish, In his form foreshewn, the horned — like a mountain huge and high.
To the fish's head his cable, Manu bound — O king of men! Strong and firm his cable wound he — round and round on either horn: And the fish, all conquering raja!— with that twisted cable bound, With the utmost speed that vessel — dragged along the ocean tide.
In his bark along the ocean — boldly went the king of men: Dancing with the tumbling billows — dashing through the roaring spray, Tossed about by winds tumultuous — in the vast and heaving sea, Like a trembling, drunken woman — reeled that ship, O king of men.
Earth was seen no more, no region — nor the intermediate space; All around a waste of water — water all, and air and sky. In the whole world of creation — princely son of Bharata! None was seen but those seven Sages — Manu only, and the fish.
Years on years, and still unwearied — drew that fish the bark along, Till at length it came, where lifted — Himavan its loftiest peak. There at length it came, and smiling — thus the fish addressed the sage: “To the peak of Himalaya — bind thou now thy stately ship.”
At the fish's mandate quickly — to the peak of Himavan Bound the sage his bark, and ever — to this day that loftiest peak, Bears the name of Manubandhan — from the binding of the bark. To the sage, the god of mercy — thus with fixed look bespake:
“I am lord of all creation — Brahma, higher than all height; I in fishlike form have saved thee — Manu, in the perilous hour; But from thee new tribes of creatures — gods, asuras, men must spring. All the worlds must be created — all that moves or moveth not,
By an all-surpassing penance — this great work must be achieved. Through my mercy, thy creation — to confusion ne'er shall run,” Spake the fish, and on the instant — to the invisible he passed. Vivaswata's son, all eager — the creation to begin,
Stood amid his work confounded:— mighty penance wrought he then. So fulfilled that rigorous penance — instant Manu‘ gan create — Instant every living creature — Raja! he began to form. Such the old, the famous legend — named the story of the Fish,
Which to thee I have related — this for all our sins atones. He that hears it, Manu's legend,— in the full possession he, Of all things complete and perfect — to the heavenly world ascends.
Cookies on Poetry Cove