Agni Purāṇa

2 - Manifestation of Vishnu as Fish

Vasistha said:

1. O Brahma! Describe unto me the manifestations of Vishnu, such as the Fish etc., which are the cause of creation. Also narrate to me the Agni Purāṇa as heard from Vishnu in the days of yore.

Agni said:

2. O Vasishtha! Ishall describe to you the manifestation of Hari as a Fish. Listen. The manifestations are for the destruction of the wicked and for the protection of the pious.

3. At the end of the past kalpa (of 432 million years), there was a periodical dissolution. Brahma was its instrumental cause. O sage! the carth and the people were submerged under the rising water.

4-5. Vaivasvata Manu was practising penance for gaining objects of enjoyment and for release from mundane existence.

Once when he was offering waters of libation in the (river) Krutamālā, a small fish came in the waters in his folded palms. As he desired to throw it into the waters, it said "O excellent man I do not throw me away.

6. Now I have fear from the crocodiles (and others)." Having heard this (Vaivasvata Manu) put it into a vessel. When

it had grown there in size, it requested him, “Get me a bigger vessel”.

7. Having heard these words, the king put the fish in a bigger vessel. Growing there again in size it requested the king, “O Manu! Get me a bigger place".

8. When it was put into a tank, it soon grew in size as big as it (the tank) and said, “Get me to a bigger place”. Then (Manu) put it into the ocean.

9. In a moment, it grew in size extending to a lakh of yojanas (one yojana 8 or 9 miles). Seeing that wonderful fish, Manu got surprised and said:

10. "Who are you, but Vishnu? O Nårāyaṇa (Vishnu) I salute you. Why do you stupefy me with your illusory power, O Janardana (Vishnu)”?

11. Having heard the words of Manu, the Fish replied Manu who had been engaged in the protection (of the world), “I have manifested for the protection of this universe and for the destruct- tion of the wicked.”

12-13. On the seventh day, the ocean would flood the earth. Having put the seeds (of creation) etc. in the boat that would approach you, you would spend the night (of 1000 mortal years) of Brahmå on it being encircled by the seven sages. (You) bind this boat to my horn with the big serpent.”.

14. Saying thus, the fish disappeared. Manu, who was waiting for the appointed hour, boarded the boat as the ocean commenced to swell.

15. The fish now appeared with a single golden horn of one million yojanas in length. He tied the boat to its horn.

16-17. After having praised it with adoration, he heard from the fish the Purāņa known as the Matsya which is capable of des- troying the sins. Keśava (Vishnu) killed the demon Hayagriva,¹ the destroyer of the Vedas of Brahman and thus protected the vedic mantras. And when the Varahakalpa (one of the periods of time) set in, Hari (Vishnu) assumed the form of a tortoise.

1. Hayagrive was the name of a powerful demon, who carried away the Vodas during Deluge. He was killed by Vishnu manifesting as a fush and the Vedas were rescued. Bhdg, P. VIII. xxiv. 8 and 57 P. Index III.p.742.

Summary of chapter 2 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

This chapter narrates the sacred episode of the Matsya avatāra, wherein Bhagavān appeared as a great fish to protect the Veda-s from the demon Śaṅkhāsura and to guide Manu safely through the cosmic deluge. The fish first appeared in the palm of Manu's hands as a tiny creature, then grew to fill successive vessels — a jar, a well, a lake, the ocean — before revealing its divine form. Bhagavān commanded Manu to build a great vessel and place upon it the seven ṛṣi-s, seeds of all plants, and pairs of all creatures. After slaying Śaṅkhāsura and recovering the Veda-s, Bhagavān towed Manu's vessel to safety on the peaks of the Himālaya. The episode is presented as the primordial act of cosmic preservation from which all subsequent creation unfolds.