Markandeya Recounts the Account of Vaivasvata Manu

Vaishampayana said: Then the Pandava again spoke to Markandeya. "Tell me about the account of Vaivasvata Manu." Markandeya replied: Vivasvat had a son. He was a maharshi, extremely powerful, with radiance equal to that of Prajapati. Manu surpassed his father and grandfather in vigour, energy, success, and specifically, austerities. This lord of men practised terrible and great austerities, with his arms raised and standing on one foot, in Vishala Badari. His head faced down and he did not blink. He tormented himself with these austerities for ten thousand years. Once, clad in wet bark and with matted hair, a fish came to him on the banks of the Virini and spoke: "I am a small fish and am frightened of the larger ones. Save me." Manu, overcome with compassion, took the fish and placed it in a water pot. He tended to it like a son. The fish grew — from the pot to a pond, from the pond to the Ganga, from the Ganga to the ocean. And when the fish was thrown into the ocean, it smiled and warned Manu of the coming deluge. Manu built a boat as instructed. The deluge came. The fish arrived with a horn. Manu tethered the boat to it, and for many years the fish pulled the boat through the flood until they reached the highest peak of the Himalayas, where they moored the boat. Then the fish spoke: "I am Prajapati Brahma. There is no one superior to me. Manu will create all beings." And it disappeared. Vaivasvata Manu desired to create all beings. He was overtaken by delusion and performed great austerities. Through these austerities, he was able to create all beings, exactly. "I have recounted for you the ancient account known by the name of the fish. This famous account is the cleanser of all sins. A man who listens to Manu's account every day is happy, is successful in all objectives, and goes to the world of heaven."