In the beginning, may the sacred sound of divine words spoken by Him, whose tail strikes from the depths of the netherworld, resonate within us, dispelling any misfortune from our hearing. This is the voice of Narayana, the supreme being, who, in the form of Vishnu as a fish, encompassed the entire earth. With reverence, we bow to Narayana, to Nara, the supreme man, and to the goddess Sarasvati, before we proclaim our victory. Narayana, though unborn, is known through His divine acts. He embodies the three qualities and the essence of the three Vedas. We honor that self-born One with our salutations. In the tranquil Naimisha forest, the sages, after long hours of sacrificial devotion, turned their attention to Suta, who sat before them, unwavering and focused. They sought to delve into the extensive traditions of old. As the ancient, righteous tales were recited, Shaunak and the other sages expressed their delight, exclaiming that these stories were like nectar, and their hearts yearned to hear them again. They inquired about the creation of beings, both moving and unmoving, and pondered the reasons behind Bhagavan Vishnu's assumption of the fish form. They asked Suta to narrate the tales in detail, for just as one never tires of nectar, they found endless joy in his words. And so, Suta began to share the sacred, life-giving Matsya Purana, as spoken by Gadadhara. He recounted how, long ago, King Manu, known for his great austerity, entrusted his kingdom to his son. With the patience of the sun's descendant, he devoted himself to forbearance. In a region of the Malaya mountains, blessed with virtues, this heroic king, equal in joy and sorrow, attained the highest form of yoga. After a hundred thousand years of devotion, the lotus-seated One, pleased with Manu’s steadfastness, granted him a boon. "Choose your wish," He said. Bowing deeply, the king humbly requested, "May I be sufficient to protect all beings, both stationary and moving, when the time of dissolution arrives." The soul of the universe granted this wish, and as He vanished, a great shower of flowers rained down from the heavens, offered by the gods. In the midst of ancestral offerings at his hermitage, a small fish, accompanied by water, fell into his hands. Compassionate as he was, King Manu made efforts to protect this delicate creature, cradling it in the hollow of his palm. In just one day and night, the fish grew to a size of sixteen fingers, pleading for protection. The king, moved by its cries, placed the fish in a small pot, but it quickly outgrew that space too, expanding to the size of three hands. The fish, now larger and still in distress, called out, "Protect me, protect me! I have taken refuge in you!" Manu, ever the protector, sent the fish into a well, but it did not fit there either. He then placed it in a lake, where it grew vast, measuring a yojana. Still, the fish cried out for help, "Protect me, protect me, best of kings!" Finally, Manu cast the fish into the Ganges, but even there, it continued to grow. Overwhelmed, the king placed it in the ocean. As the fish filled the entire ocean, Manu, filled with fear, questioned, "Who are you, O lord of the asuras? Or perhaps you are Vāsudeva; no other could match such a form!" Realizing the truth, he exclaimed, "I have recognized you, Keśava; you trouble me in the form of a fish. Hṛṣīkeśa, lord of the world, abode of the universe, I bow to you." The blessed Janārdana, in His fish form, responded, "Well done! You have truly recognized me, sinless one." He revealed to Manu that soon, the earth with its mountains, forests, and groves would be submerged in water. "This boat has been constructed by all the gods for the protection of living beings. Place all those helpless ones, born from sweat, eggs, or sprouts, and those born alive, into this vessel, and protect them, O virtuous king." "When the winds strike the boat at the end of the age, you shall tie it to this horn of mine. Thus, at the end of the dissolution of all that is moving and unmoving, you will become the progenitor of the world. At the beginning of the Kṛta Yuga, you will be the all-knowing and steadfast king, worthy of worship by the gods." With this wisdom bestowed upon him, Manu, filled with curiosity, asked Madhusūdana, "Blessed one, after how many years will this destruction come? How will I protect the beings, and how will I be united with you again?" Madhusūdana replied, "From today onward, there will be no rainfall upon the earth for more than a hundred years—a famine will arise, bringing great misfortune." He continued, "Then, as living beings dwindle and perish, the seven terrible rays of the seven suns will unleash burning embers upon the earth. At the end of the age, the fire of Aurva will grow fierce, alongside the poison-fire released from the mouth of Sankarṣaṇa in the netherworld, and the fire from the third eye of Bhava will manifest. This fire will consume the three worlds, turning the entire earth to ashes." And thus, the stage was set for the trials ahead, with the wisdom of the divine guiding the righteous King Manu on his path to protect all creation.