Identifier: indianmythlegend00inmack Title: Indian myth and legend Year: 1913 (1910s) Authors: Mackenzie, Donald Alexander, 1873-1936 Subjects: Hindu mythology Publisher: London, Gresham Contributing Library: Indiana University Digitizing Sponsor: Indiana University

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Text Appearing Before Image: show that he owed his powerand opportunities to Vishnu. In the Mahdbhdrata the sage Markandeya refers toManu as the great Rishi, who was equal unto Brahma inglory. He had practised rigid austerities in a forest forten thousand years, standing on one leg with upliftedhand. One day while he brooded in wet clothes, a fishrose from a stream and asked for his protection againstthe greater fish which desired to swallow it, at the sametime promising to reward him. Manu placed the fish inan earthen jar and tended it carefully till it increased insize; then he put it in a tank. The fish continued togrow until the tank became small for it, and Manu heardit pleading to be transferred to the Ganges, the favouritespouse of Ocean, ^e carried it to the river, and intime the fish spoke to him, saying: I cannot move aboutin the river on account of my great length and bulk.Take me quickly to the Ocean. Manu was enabled tocarry the fish from the Ganges to the sea, and then itspoke with a smile and said:

Text Appearing After Image: < Z < w►J cu wH E- QQ CQ Z w I o o 05 O o w z DIVINITIES OF THE EPIC PERIOD 141 Know thou, O worshipful one, my protector, that the dis-solution of the Universe is at hand. The time is ripe for purgingthe world. I will therefore advise thee what thou shouldst do,so that it may be well with thee. Build a strong and massive ark,and furnish it with a long rope; thou wilt ascend in it with theseven Rishis (the Celestial Rishis), and take with thee all the differ-ent seeds enumerated by Brahmans in days of yore, and preservethem carefully. Wait for me and I will appear as a horned animal.Act according to my instructions, for without mine aid thou canstnot save thyself from the terrible deluge. Manu gathered together all the different seeds and setsail in an excellent vessel on the surging sea. He thoughtof the fish, and it arose out of the waters like an island;he cast a noose which he fastened to the horns on its head,and the fish towed the ark over the roaring sea; tossedby the b

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