Critical Edition
वैशंपायन उवाच ततः स पाण्डवो भूयो मार्कण्डेयमुवाच ह कथयस्वेह चरितं मनोर्वैवस्वतस्य मे
M. N. Dutt: Vaishampayana said: Then that son of Pandu (Yudhishthira) spoke thus to the Brahmana Markandeya, “narrate (to me) the history of Vaivasvata Manu.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच विवस्वतः सुतो राजन्परमर्षिः प्रतापवान् बभूव नरशार्दूल प्रजापतिसमद्युतिः
M. N. Dutt: Markandeya said : O king, O foremost of men, there was a mighty great Rishi; he was the son of Vivasvata and he was as effulgent as Prajapati.
ओजसा तेजसा लक्ष्म्या तपसा च विशेषतः अतिचक्राम पितरं मनुः स्वं च पितामहम्
M. N. Dutt: He far excelled his father and grand-father in prowess, in strength, in fortune and also in religious penances.
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विशालायां बदर्यां स नराधिपः एकपादस्थितस्तीव्रं चचार सुमहत्तपः
M. N. Dutt: Standing on one leg and with uplifted arms, that chief of men performed severe asceticism in the extensive Badari.
अवाक्शिरास्तथा चापि नेत्रैरनिमिषैर्दृढम् सोऽतप्यत तपो घोरं वर्षाणामयुतं तदा
M. N. Dutt: With head downwards and with steadfast eyes he performed these severe austerities for ten thousand years.
तं कदाचित्तपस्यन्तमार्द्रचीरजटाधरम् वीरिणीतीरमागम्य मत्स्यो वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: Once upon a time when he, with wet clothes on and with matted looks on his head, was performing such austerities, there came a fish on the banks of the Chirini and spoke to him thus.
भगवन्क्षुद्रमत्स्योऽस्मि बलवद्भ्यो भयं मम मत्स्येभ्यो हि ततो मां त्वं त्रातुमर्हसि सुव्रत
M. N. Dutt: "O exalted one, I am a helpless little fish; I am afraid of the large ones; a vow-observing Rishi, you should extend your protection to me,
दुर्बलं बलवन्तो हि मत्स्यं मत्स्या विशेषतः भक्षयन्ति यथा वृत्तिर्विहिता नः सनातनी
AI Translation: The strong devour the weak, especially fish devouring other fish. This is the eternal way of life that has been ordained for us.
तस्माद्भयौघान्महतो मज्जन्तं मां विशेषतः त्रातुमर्हसि कर्तास्मि कृते प्रतिकृतं तव
AI Translation: Therefore, I who am sinking in a great flood of fear, especially, You should rescue me. I will do for you what you have done for me.
स मत्स्यवचनं श्रुत्वा कृपयाभिपरिप्लुतः मनुर्वैवस्वतोऽगृह्णात्तं मत्स्यं पाणिना स्वयम्
M. N. Dutt: Having heard these words of the fish, the Vaivasvata Manu was filled with pity and took out the fish from the water with his own hands.
उदकान्तमुपानीय मत्स्यं वैवस्वतो मनुः अलिञ्जरे प्राक्षिपत्स चन्द्रांशुसदृशप्रभम्
M. N. Dutt: The fish which had a body as bright as the rays of the moon, after being taken out of the water, was again put back in an earthen water vessel.
स तत्र ववृधे राजन्मत्स्यः परमसत्कृतः पुत्रवच्चाकरोत्तस्मिन्मनुर्भावं विशेषतः
M. N. Dutt: O king, thus being reared, that fish grew in size and Manu carefully tended it as if were a child of his.
अथ कालेन महता स मत्स्यः सुमहानभूत् अलिञ्जरे जले चैव नासौ समभवत्किल
M. N. Dutt: After a long period of time that fish grew to be so large that there was no room for it in that vessel.
अथ मत्स्यो मनुं दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत भगवन्साधु मेऽद्यान्यत्स्थानं संप्रतिपादय
M. N. Dutt: Manu saw that the fish again spoke to him thus, “O exalted one, appoint a better habitation for me."
उद्धृत्यालिञ्जरात्तस्मात्ततः स भगवान्मुनिः तं मत्स्यमनयद्वापीं महतीं स मनुस्तदा
M. N. Dutt: Then the exalted Manu, that conqueror of hostile cities, took it out of that vessel and carried it to a large tank and put it into its water).
तत्र तं प्राक्षिपच्चापि मनुः परपुरंजय अथावर्धत मत्स्यः स पुनर्वर्षगणान्बहून्
AI Translation: Manu, the conqueror of enemy cities, threw him into the water. Then the fish grew again for many hundreds of years.
द्वियोजनायता वापी विस्तृता चापि योजनम् तस्यां नासौ समभवन्मत्स्यो राजीवलोचन विचेष्टितुं वा कौन्तेय मत्स्यो वाप्यां विशां पते
AI Translation: The lake was two yojanas long and one yojana wide. In it, the fish with lotus-like eyes did not exist. O Kounteya, O lord of the earth, the fish did not move in the lake.
मनुं मत्स्यस्ततो दृष्ट्वा पुनरेवाभ्यभाषत नय मां भगवन्साधो समुद्रमहिषीं प्रभो गङ्गां तत्र निवत्स्यामि यथा वा तात मन्यसे
M. N. Dutt: "O exalted one, O pious one, O sire, take me to the Ganga, the favourite wife of the Ocean or do what you think proper.
Supplementary Passages:
3.185.18 After 18, N (except B2) G3 ins.: *916 निदेशे हि मया तुभ्यं स्थातव्यमनसूयता वृद्धिर्हि परमा प्राप्ता त्वत्कृते हि मयानघ
एवमुक्तो मनुर्मत्स्यमनयद्भगवान्वशी नदीं गङ्गां तत्र चैनं स्वयं प्राक्षिपदच्युतः
M. N. Dutt: Having been thus addressed, the up-right, continent and the adorable Manu took the fish to the river Ganga and put it into its water with his own hands.
स तत्र ववृधे मत्स्यः किंचित्कालमरिंदम ततः पुनर्मनुं दृष्ट्वा मत्स्यो वचनमब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: O chastiser of foes, the fish there also began to grow for some time and then seeing Manu it spoke to him thus,
गङ्गायां हि न शक्नोमि बृहत्त्वाच्चेष्टितुं प्रभो समुद्रं नय मामाशु प्रसीद भगवन्निति
M. N. Dutt: "O lord, I am unable to move about in the Ganga on account of my huge body. Therefore, O exalted one, take me soon to the sea.”
उद्धृत्य गङ्गासलिलात्ततो मत्स्यं मनुः स्वयम् समुद्रमनयत्पार्थ तत्र चैनमवासृजत्
M. N. Dutt: O son of Pritha, Manu took it out of the Ganga and carried it to the sea and put it there.
सुमहानपि मत्स्यः सन्स मनोर्मनसस्तदा आसीद्यथेष्टहार्यश्च स्पर्शगन्धसुखश्च वै
M. N. Dutt: Notwithstanding its huge size Manu easily carried it and its touch and smell were also pleasant to him.
यदा समुद्रे प्रक्षिप्तः स मत्स्यो मनुना तदा तत एनमिदं वाक्यं स्मयमान इवाब्रवीत्
M. N. Dutt: When that fish was thrown into the sea by Manu, it smilingly spoke these words to Manu,
भगवन्कृता हि मे रक्षा त्वया सर्वा विशेषतः प्राप्तकालं तु यत्कार्यं त्वया तच्छ्रूयतां मम
M. N. Dutt: “O exalted one, you have protected me with special care; hear what you should do in the fullness of time.
अचिराद्भगवन्भौममिदं स्थावरजङ्गमम् सर्वमेव महाभाग प्रलयं वै गमिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: O exalted one, O greatly blessed one; the dissolution of all this mobile and immobile world is now near at hand.
संप्रक्षालनकालोऽयं लोकानां समुपस्थितः तस्मात्त्वां बोधयाम्यद्य यत्ते हितमनुत्तमम्
M. N. Dutt: The proper time for purging off this earth is almost come; therefore I tell you what will be good for you.
त्रसानां स्थावराणां च यच्चेङ्गं यच्च नेङ्गति तस्य सर्वस्य संप्राप्तः कालः परमदारुणः
M. N. Dutt: The terrible doom has now come to the mobile and the immobile things of the creation, those that have locomotion and those that have not.
नौश्च कारयितव्या ते दृढा युक्तवटाकरा तत्र सप्तर्षिभिः सार्धमारुहेथा महामुने
M. N. Dutt: You should (at once) build a strong and huge ark and furnish it with a long rope. O great Rishis, get into it with the seven Rishis.
बीजानि चैव सर्वाणि यथोक्तानि मया पुरा तस्यामारोहयेर्नावि सुसंगुप्तानि भागशः
M. N. Dutt: Take with you all the different seeds which were enumerated in the days of yore by the twice-born Brahmanas; and you must separately and carefully preserve them.
नौस्थश्च मां प्रतीक्षेथास्तदा मुनिजनप्रिय आगमिष्याम्यहं शृङ्गी विज्ञेयस्तेन तापस
M. N. Dutt: O beloved of the Rishis, while remaining in that ark wait for me, and I shall appear to you in the shape of a homed animal. O ascetic, recognise me then.
एवमेतत्त्वया कार्यमापृष्टोऽसि व्रजाम्यहम् नातिशङ्क्यमिदं चापि वचनं ते ममाभिभो
M. N. Dutt: I now depart, you should act according to my instructions, for without my help, you cannot save yourself from the fearful flood.”
Supplementary Passages:
3.185.32 After 32ab, B3 D (except D1-3.5) ins.: *917 ता न शक्या महत्यो वै आपस्तर्तुं मया विना
एवं करिष्य इति तं स मत्स्यं प्रत्यभाषत जग्मतुश्च यथाकाममनुज्ञाप्य परस्परम्
AI Translation: Thus I shall do,” he said to the fish. And they went as they pleased, having taken leave of each other.
ततो मनुर्महाराज यथोक्तं मत्स्यकेन ह बीजान्यादाय सर्वाणि सागरं पुप्लुवे तदा नावा तु शुभया वीर महोर्मिणमरिंदम
M. N. Dutt: O chastiser of foes, O hero, procured all the different seeds and set sail in an excellent vessel on the surging sea.
चिन्तयामास च मनुस्तं मत्स्यं पृथिवीपते स च तच्चिन्तितं ज्ञात्वा मत्स्यः परपुरंजय शृङ्गी तत्राजगामाशु तदा भरतसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: O ruler of earth, O conqueror of hostile cities, he thought of that fish and that fish also, knowing his thought,
तं दृष्ट्वा मनुजेन्द्रेन्द्र मनुर्मत्स्यं जलार्णवे शृङ्गिणं तं यथोक्तेन रूपेणाद्रिमिवोच्छ्रितम्
AI Translation: Seeing him, Manu, the lord of men, in the ocean of water, saw the horned one in the form described, like a mountain rising.
वटाकरमयं पाशमथ मत्स्यस्य मूर्धनि मनुर्मनुजशार्दूल तस्मिञ्शृङ्गे न्यवेशयत्
AI Translation: Then, on the head of the fish, Manu placed the noose made of the bark of the banyan tree. O tiger among men, Manu placed it on that horn.
संयतस्तेन पाशेन मत्स्यः परपुरंजय वेगेन महता नावं प्राकर्षल्लवणाम्भसि
AI Translation: O conqueror of enemy cities, the fish was restrained by that noose. With great force, it dragged the boat into the salty waters.
स ततार तया नावा समुद्रं मनुजेश्वर नृत्यमानमिवोर्मीभिर्गर्जमानमिवाम्भसा
AI Translation: The lord of men crossed the ocean in that boat, which seemed to dance with the waves and roar with the water.
क्षोभ्यमाणा महावातैः सा नौस्तस्मिन्महोदधौ घूर्णते चपलेव स्त्री मत्ता परपुरंजय
AI Translation: O conqueror of enemy cities, that ship, being tossed about by the great winds, was whirling about in that great ocean, like a wanton woman.
नैव भूमिर्न च दिशः प्रदिशो वा चकाशिरे सर्वमाम्भसमेवासीत्खं द्यौश्च नरपुंगव
AI Translation: The earth, the directions, and the sub-directions did not shine. Everything was just water, O best of men, and the sky and the heaven.
एवंभूते तदा लोके संकुले भरतर्षभ अदृश्यन्त सप्तर्षयो मनुर्मत्स्यः सहैव ह
AI Translation: Thus it was in that world, O bull of the Bharata lineage, when it was crowded. The seven sages, Manu, and the fish were not seen.
एवं बहून्वर्षगणांस्तां नावं सोऽथ मत्स्यकः चकर्षातन्द्रितो राजंस्तस्मिन्सलिलसंचये
AI Translation: Thus, O king, the fisherman, without any fatigue, pulled the boat for many years in that mass of water.
ततो हिमवतः शृङ्गं यत्परं पुरुषर्षभ तत्राकर्षत्ततो नावं स मत्स्यः कुरुनन्दन
AI Translation: Then, O bull among men, he drew the boat to the summit of the Himalayas. Then that fish, O descendant of the Kuru lineage,
ततोऽब्रवीत्तदा मत्स्यस्तानृषीन्प्रहसञ्शनैः अस्मिन्हिमवतः शृङ्गे नावं बध्नीत माचिरम्
AI Translation: Then the fish slowly said to those sages, laughing: "Bind the boat to this peak of the Himalayas, quickly."
सा बद्धा तत्र तैस्तूर्णमृषिभिर्भरतर्षभ नौर्मत्स्यस्य वचः श्रुत्वा शृङ्गे हिमवतस्तदा
AI Translation: O bull among the Bharatas, she was bound there by those sages. Hearing the words of the fish, she went to the peak of the Himalayas.
तच्च नौबन्धनं नाम शृङ्गं हिमवतः परम् ख्यातमद्यापि कौन्तेय तद्विद्धि भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: And that place of bondage is the peak of the Himalayas, known even today, O son of Kunti, O bull of the Bharatas.
अथाब्रवीदनिमिषस्तानृषीन्सहितांस्तदा अहं प्रजापतिर्ब्रह्मा मत्परं नाधिगम्यते मत्स्यरूपेण यूयं च मयास्मान्मोक्षिता भयात्
M. N. Dutt: “I am the Lord of creatures, Brahma; none is greater than myself. In ihe form of a fish I have saved you from this fear.
मनुना च प्रजाः सर्वाः सदेवासुरमानवाः स्रष्टव्याः सर्वलोकाश्च यच्चेङ्गं यच्च नेङ्गति
M. N. Dutt: Manu will create all beings, gods Asuras and men and all those who have power of locomotion and who have not.
तपसा चातितीव्रेण प्रतिभास्य भविष्यति मत्प्रसादात्प्रजासर्गे न च मोहं गमिष्यति
M. N. Dutt: By practising severe asceticism, he will acquire this power. With my blessings, illusion will have no power over him."
इत्युक्त्वा वचनं मत्स्यः क्षणेनादर्शनं गतः स्रष्टुकामः प्रजाश्चापि मनुर्वैवस्वतः स्वयम् प्रमूढोऽभूत्प्रजासर्गे तपस्तेपे महत्ततः
M. N. Dutt: Having said this, the fish disappeared in a moment. Vaivasvata Manu also became esirous of creating the creatures.
तपसा महता युक्तः सोऽथ स्रष्टुं प्रचक्रमे सर्वाः प्रजा मनुः साक्षाद्यथावद्भरतर्षभ
AI Translation: He was endowed with great austerities and then began to create All beings, Manu himself, just as they should be, O bull of the Bharata lineage.
इत्येतन्मात्स्यकं नाम पुराणं परिकीर्तितम् आख्यानमिदमाख्यातं सर्वपापहरं मया
AI Translation: Thus this Purāṇa named Matsya has been narrated. This account has been narrated by me, which removes all sins.
य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं मनोश्चरितमादितः स सुखी सर्वसिद्धार्थः स्वर्गलोकमियान्नरः
M. N. Dutt: He who every day hears this old history of Manu obtains all happiness and all other objects of desires and goes to heaven.