THE DELUGE.

Vivaswata's son, a raja — and a sage of mighty fame,

King of men, the first great fathers — in his glory equalled he,

In his might and kingly power — Manu, and in earthly bliss,

And in wonder-working penance — sire and grandsire far surpassed.

With his arms on high outstretching — wrought the sovereign of men,

Steadily on one foot standing — penance rigorous and dread,

With his downward head low-drooping — with his fixed, unwavering eyes,

Dreed he thus his awful penance — many a long and weary year.

To the penitent with tresses — streaming loose, and wet, and long,

By the margin of Wirini — thus the fish began to speak:

“Blessed! lo, the least of fishes — of the mighty fish in dread,

Wilt thou not from death preserve me — thou that all thy vows fulfill'st?

Since the strongest of the fishes — persecute the weaker still,

Over us impends for ever — our inevitable fate.

Ere I sink, if thou wilt free me — from th’ extremity of dread,

Meet return can I compensate — when the holy deed is done.”

Speaking thus the fish when heard he — full of pity all his heart,

In his hand that fish king Manu — son of Vivaswata took.

Brought the son of Vivaswata — to the river shore the fish,

Cast it in a crystal vessel — like the moonshine clear and bright.

“Rapid grew that fish, O raja — tended with such duteous care,

Cleaved to him the heart of Manu — as to a beloved son.

Time rolled on, and larger, larger — ever waxed that wonderous fish,

Nor within that crystal vessel — found he longer space to move.”

Spake again the fish to Manu — as he saw him, thus he spake:

“O all prosperous! O all gentle!— bring me to another place.”

Then the fish from out the vessel — blessed Manu took again;

And with gentle speed he bare him,— Manu, to a spacious lake.

There the conqueror of cities,— mighty Manu, cast him in.

Still he grew, that fish so wondrous — many a circling round of years.

Three miles long that lake expanded — and a single mile its breadth,

Yet that fish with eyes like lotus — there no longer might endure;

Nor, O sovereign of the Vaisyas!— might that lake his bulk contain.

Spake again that fish to Manu — as he saw him, thus he spake:

“Bring me now, O blest and holy!— to the Ganga, ocean's bride,

Let me dwell in her wide waters — yet, O loved one, as thou wilt,

Be it so; whate'er thy bidding,— murmur would beseem me ill,

Since through thee, O blest and blameless!— to this wondrous bulk I've grown.”

Thus addressed, the happy Manu — took again the fish, and bore

To the sacred stream of Ganga — and himself he cast him in.

Still it grew, as time rolled onward — tamer of thy foes! that fish.

Spake again that fish to Manu — as he saw him, thus he spake:

“Mightiest! I can dwell no longer — here in Ganga's narrow stream;

Best of men! once more befriend me — bear me to the ocean swift.”

Manu's self from Ganga's water — took again that wondrous fish,

And he brought him to the ocean,— with his own hand cast him in.

Brought by Manu to the ocean — very large that fish appeared,

But not yet of form unmeasured,— spread delicious odours round.

But that fish by kingly Manu — cast into the ocean wide,

In these words again bespake him — and he smiled as thus he spake:

“Blessed! thou hast still preserved me — still my every wish fulfilled,

When the awful time approaches — hear from me what thou must do.

In a little time, O blessed!— all this firm and seated earth,

All that moves upon its surface — shall a deluge sweep away.

Near it comes, of all creation — the ablution day is near;

Therefore what I now forewarn thee — may thy highest weal secure.

All the fixed and all the moving — all that stirs, or stirreth not,

Lo, of all the time approaches — the tremendous time of doom.

Build thyself a ship, O Manu — strong, with cables well prepared,

And thyself, with the seven Sages — mighty Manu enter in.

All the living seeds of all things — by the Brahmins named of yore,

Place thou first within thy vessel — well secured, divided well.

From thy ship keep watch, O hermit — watch for me, as I draw near;

Horned shall I swim before thee — by my horn thou'lt know me well.

This the work thou must accomplish,— I depart; so fare thee well —

Over these tumultuous waters — none without mine aid can sail.

Doubt thou not, O lofty minded!— of my warning speech the truth.”

To the fish thus answered Manu — “All that thou requir'st, I'll do.”

Thus they parted, of each other — mutual leave when they had ta'en,

Manu, raja! to accomplish — all to him the fish had said.

Taking first the seeds of all things — launched he forth upon the sea;

On the billowy sea, the prudent — in a beauteous vessel rode.

Manu of the fish bethought him;— conscious of his thought the fish,

Conqueror of hostile cities!— with his horn came floating by.

King of men, the born of Manu!— Manu saw the sea-borne fish,

In his form foreshewn, the horned — like a mountain huge and high.

To the fish's head his cable, Manu bound — O king of men!

Strong and firm his cable wound he — round and round on either horn:

And the fish, all conquering raja!— with that twisted cable bound,

With the utmost speed that vessel — dragged along the ocean tide.

In his bark along the ocean — boldly went the king of men:

Dancing with the tumbling billows — dashing through the roaring spray,

Tossed about by winds tumultuous — in the vast and heaving sea,

Like a trembling, drunken woman — reeled that ship, O king of men.

Earth was seen no more, no region — nor the intermediate space;

All around a waste of water — water all, and air and sky.

In the whole world of creation — princely son of Bharata!

None was seen but those seven Sages — Manu only, and the fish.

Years on years, and still unwearied — drew that fish the bark along,

Till at length it came, where lifted — Himavan its loftiest peak.

There at length it came, and smiling — thus the fish addressed the sage:

“To the peak of Himalaya — bind thou now thy stately ship.”

At the fish's mandate quickly — to the peak of Himavan

Bound the sage his bark, and ever — to this day that loftiest peak,

Bears the name of Manubandhan — from the binding of the bark.

To the sage, the god of mercy — thus with fixed look bespake:

“I am lord of all creation — Brahma, higher than all height;

I in fishlike form have saved thee — Manu, in the perilous hour;

But from thee new tribes of creatures — gods, asuras, men must spring.

All the worlds must be created — all that moves or moveth not,

By an all-surpassing penance — this great work must be achieved.

Through my mercy, thy creation — to confusion ne'er shall run,”

Spake the fish, and on the instant — to the invisible he passed.

Vivaswata's son, all eager — the creation to begin,

Stood amid his work confounded:— mighty penance wrought he then.

So fulfilled that rigorous penance — instant Manu‘ gan create —

Instant every living creature — Raja! he began to form.

Such the old, the famous legend — named the story of the Fish,

Which to thee I have related — this for all our sins atones.

He that hears it, Manu's legend,— in the full possession he,

Of all things complete and perfect — to the heavenly world ascends.