Chapter 2 - Manifestation of Viṣṇu as Fish

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vasiṣṭha said:

1. O Brahmā! Describe unto me the manifestations of Viṣṇu, such as the Fish etc., which are the cause of creation. Also narrate to me the Agni-Purāṇa as heard from Viṣṇu in the days of yore.

Agni said:

2. O Vasiṣṭha! I shall describe to you the manifestation of Hari as a Fish. Listen. The manifestations are for the destruction of the wicked and for the protection of the pious.

3. At the end of the past kalpa (of 432 million years), there was a periodical dissolution. Brahmā was its instrumental cause. O sage! the earth and the people were submerged under the rising water.

4-5. Vaivasvata-Manu was practising penance for gaining objects of enjoyment and for release from mundane existence.

Once when he was offering waters of libation in the (river) Kṛtamālā, a small fish came in the waters in his folded palms. As he desired to throw it into the waters, it said “O excellent man! do not throw me away.

6. Now I have fear from the crocodiles (and others).” Having heard this (Vaivasvata Manu) put it into a vessel. When it had grown there in size, it requested him, “Get me a bigger vessel”.

7. Having heard these words, the king put the fish in a bigger vessel. Growing there again in size it requested the-king, “O Manu! Get me a bigger place”.

8. When it was put into a tank, it soon grew in size as big as it (the tank) and said, “Get me to a bigger place”. Then (Manu) put it into the ocean.

9. In a moment, it grew in size extending to a lakh of yojanas (one yojana 8 or 9 miles). Seeing that wonderful fish, Manu. got surprised and said:

10. “Who are you, but Viṣṇu? O Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu) I salute you. Why do you stupefy me with your illusory power, O Janārdana (Viṣṇu)”.

11. Having heard the words of Manu, the Fish replied Manu who had been engaged in the protection (of the world), “I have manifested for the protection of this universe and for the destruction of the wicked.”

12-13. On the seventh day, the ocean would flood the earth. Having put the seeds (of creation) etc. in the boat that would approach you, you would spend the night (of 1000 mortal years) ofBrahmā on it being encircled by the seven sages. (You) bind. this boat to my horn with the big serpent.”.

14. Saying thus, the fish disappeared. Manu, who was waiting for the appointed hour, boarded the boat as the ocean. commenced to swell.

15. The fish now appeared with a single golden horn of one million yojanas in length. He tied the boat to its horn.

16-17. After having praised it with adoration, he heard from the fish the Purāṇa known as the Matsya which is capable of destroying the sins. Keśava (Viṣṇu) killed the demon Hayagrīva,^[1] the destroyer of the Vedas of Brahman and thus protected the vedic mantras. And when the Varāhakalpa (one of the periods of time) set in, Hari (Viṣṇu) assumed the form of a tortoise.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Hayagrīva was the name of a powerful demon, who carried away the Vedas during Deluge. He was killed by Viṣṇu manifesting as a fish and the Vedas were rescued. Bhāg. P. VIII. xxiv. 8 and 57 P. Index III. p. 742.