क्षेत्रज्ञभूतां परलोकभावे कर्मोदये बुद्दिमभिप्रविष्टाम्। प्रज्ञां च देवीं सुभगे विमृश्य पृच्छामि त्वां का ह्यसि चारुरूपे
O beautiful one, reflecting on the divine wisdom that enters the intellect as the field-knower in the state beyond, at the rise of karma, I ask you—who are you?
अग्निहोत्रादहमभ्यागताऽस्मि विप्रर्षभाणां संशयच्छेदनाय। त्वत्संयोगादहमेतदब्रुवं भावे स्थिता तथ्यमर्थं यथावत्
I have come from the Agnihotra, to resolve the doubts of the foremost Brahmins; by your association I have spoken this, standing in truth as it is.
न हि त्वया सदृशी काचिदस्ति विभ्राजसे ह्यतिमात्रं यथा श्रीः। रूपं च ते दिव्यमनन्तकान्ति प्रज्ञां च देवीं सुभगे बिभर्षि
There is truly no one like you; you shine exceedingly, like fortune herself. Your form is divine, of endless beauty, and you possess divine wisdom, O blessed one.
श्रेष्ठानि यानि द्विपदांवरिष्ठ यज्ञेषु विद्वन्नुपपादयन्ति। तैरेव चाहं संप्रवृद्धा भवामि चाप्यायिता रूपवती च विप्र
O best of the twice-born, whatever is most excellent among men that the learned attain in sacrifices, by those very means I am nourished and grow beautiful.
यच्चापि पात्रमुपयुज्यते ह वानस्पत्यमायसं पार्थिवं वा। दिव्येन रूपेण प्रज्ञया च तेनैव सिद्धिरिति विद्धि विद्वन्
And whatever vessel is used—whether made of wood, metal, or clay—know, O wise one, that success comes from the purity of intent and understanding, not from the vessel itself.
परं पुराणं तमहं न वेद्मि
I do not know that supreme, ancient one.
तं वै परं वेदविदः प्रपन्नाः परं परेभ्यः प्रथितं पुराणम्। स्वाध्यायदानव्रतपुण्ययोगै- स्तपोधना वीतशोका विमुक्ताः
Those who know the Vedas, who are devoted to study, charity, vows, and meritorious practices—ascetics free from sorrow and liberated—have attained that supreme, renowned, ancient one.
तस्याथ मध्ये वेतसः पुण्यगन्धः सहस्रशाखो विपुलो विभाति। तस्य मूलात्सरितः प्रस्रवन्ति मधूदकप्रस्रवणाः सुपुण्याः
In its midst stands a vetasa tree, fragrant and holy, with a thousand branches, vast and resplendent; from its roots flow sacred streams of honeyed water.
शाखांशाखां महानद्यः संयान्ति सिकताशयाः। धानापूपा मांसशाकाः सदापायसकर्दमाः
To each and every branch, great rivers with sandy beds converge; there are always grains, cakes, meat, vegetables, sweet drinks, and mud of rice.
यस्मिन्नग्निमुखा देवाः सेन्द्राः सहमरुद्गणाः। ईजिरे क्रतुभिः श्रेष्ठैस्तत्पदं परमं मुने
In that place, O sage, the gods led by Agni and Indra, together with the hosts of Maruts, performed the highest sacrifices.
ततः स पाण्डवो भूयो मार्कण्डेयमुवाच ह। कथयस्वति चरितं मनोर्वैवस्वतस्य च
Then that son of Pandu again spoke to Markandeya: 'Tell me the story of Manu, son of Vivasvat.'
विवस्वतः सुतो राजन्महर्षिः सुप्रतापवान्। बभूव नरशार्दूल प्रजापतिसमद्युतिः
O king, Vivasvat’s son was a great sage, blazing in splendor, a tiger among men, shining like the lord of creatures.
ओजसातेजसा लक्ष्म्या तपसा च विशेषतः। अतिचक्राम पितरं मनुः स्वंच पितामहम्
By his energy, brilliance, fortune, and especially his austerity, Manu surpassed his own father and grandfather.
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विशालायां बदर्यां स नराधिपः। एकपादस्थितस्तीव्रं चकार सुमहत्तपः
That lord of men, with arms raised upward, stood on one leg in the vast Badari, performing intense and great austerities.
अवाकूशिरास्तथा चापि नेत्रैरनिमिषैर्दृढम्। सोऽतप्यत तपो घोरं वर्षाणामयुतं तदा
With his head bent down and his gaze fixed, unmoving, he practiced fierce austerity for ten thousand years.
तं कदाचित्तपस्यन्तमार्द्रचीरजटाधरम्। चीरिणीतीरमागम्य मत्स्यो वचनमब्रवीत्
Once, as he was engaged in austerity, wearing wet bark and matted hair, a fish approached him on the bank and spoke these words:
भगवन्क्षुद्रमत्स्येस्मि बलवद्भ्यो भयंमम। मत्स्येभ्यो हि ततो मां त्वं त्रातुमर्हसि सुव्रत
'O venerable one, I am a small fish and I fear the strong; please protect me from the bigger fish, O steadfast one.'
दुर्बलं बलवन्तो हि मत्स्या मत्स्यं विशेषतः। भक्षयन्ति सदा वृत्तिर्विहिता नः सनातनी
'For the strong always devour the weak fish, especially among us; such is our eternal way of life.'
तस्माद्भयौघान्महतो मज्जन्तं मां विशेषतः। त्रातुमर्हसि कर्तास्मि कृतेप्रतिकृतं तव
'Therefore, as I am sinking in this great flood of fear, you should protect me; I will repay your kindness in return.'
स मत्स्यवचनं श्रुत्वा कृपयाऽभिपरिप्लुतः। मनुर्वैवस्वतोऽगृह्णात्तं मत्स्यं पाणिना स्वयम्
Hearing the fish’s words, Manu Vaivasvata, filled with compassion, took the fish in his own hand.
उदकान्तमुपानीय मत्स्यं वैवस्वतो मनुः। अलिञ्जरे प्राक्षिपत्तं चन्द्रांशुसदृशप्रभम्
Bringing the fish to the edge of the water, Manu Vaivasvata placed it in a vessel, shining like the rays of the moon.
स तत्र ववृधे राजन्मत्स्यः परमसत्कृतः। पुत्रवत्स्वीकरोत्तस्मै मनुर्भावं विशेषतः
There, O king, the fish grew greatly, being well cared for; Manu regarded it with special affection, as if it were his own child.
अथ कालेन महता स मत्स्यः सुमहानभूत्। अलिञ्जरजले चैव नासौ समभवत्किल
Then, with the passage of much time, that fish became exceedingly large, and in the water of the jar, it could no longer remain.
अथ मत्स्यो मनुं दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत। भगवन्साधु मेऽद्यान्यत्स्थानं संप्रतिपादय
Then the fish, seeing Manu, once again spoke to him: 'O venerable one, kindly provide me today with another place.'
उद्धृत्यालिञ्जरात्तस्मात्ततः स भगवान्मनुः। तं मत्स्यमनयद्वापीं महतीं स मनुस्तदा
Thereupon, Manu, the blessed one, took the fish out of the jar and brought it to a great pond.
तत्रतं प्राक्षिपच्चापि मनुः परपुरंजय। अथावर्धत मत्स्यः स पुनर्वर्षगणान्बहून्
There, Manu cast the fish, O conqueror of enemy cities; and in that place, over many years, the fish grew again.
द्वियोजनायता वापी विस्तृताचापि योजनम्। तस्यां नासौ समभवन्मत्स्यो राजीवलोचन
The pond was two yojanas long and one yojana wide, but even there, O lotus-eyed one, the fish could not be contained.
विचेष्टितुं च कौन्तेय मत्स्यो वाप्यां विशांपते। मनुं मत्स्यस्ततो दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत
And, O son of Kunti, the fish was unable to move about in the pond, O lord of men; so, seeing Manu, the fish again spoke to him.
नय मां भगवन्साधो समुद्रमहिषीं प्रियाम्। गङ्गां नांत्रापि शक्तोस्मि वस्तुं मतिमतांवर
'Take me, O venerable and virtuous one, to my beloved queen, the ocean; I am not able to remain even in the Ganga, O best of the wise.'
निदेशे हि मया तुभ्यं स्थातव्यमनसूयता। वृद्धिर्हि परमा प्राप्ता त्वत्कृते हि मयाऽनघ
'For I must remain wherever you command me, without resentment; through you, O sinless one, I have attained the highest growth.'