Revisiting Mahabharata 3 : Manuantara

Revisiting Mahabharata 3 : Manuantara Chapter 24 in the book "Completing Vyasa's Mahabharata" by Abhinav Agarwal is captioned "Matsya : The Law of the Jungle" I didn't suspect the two pages will contain this much information, taking us to the genesis of"Manuantara". The story appears in 54 Shlokas in Upa Parva "Markandeya Samasya" under Aranyaka Parva. On Yudhishthira's request Markandeya narrated the story of Vaivasvata Manu. "It is the rule among fish that large fish prey on smaller ones" One day when Vaivasvata Manu was immersed in his usual austerities, a small tiny fish swam up to him on the banks of River Virini and asked him to protect her. If Manu protected her from larger fish, it agreed to return the favour. Manu agreed to protect the fish and put it in a pot containing water. As the fish grew bigger and bigger, Manu shifted it to bigger and bigger pots, pond and river. When the river couldn't hold the large-sized fish, it was taken to the ocean. Once in the ocean, the fish revealed the purpose of its visit : "The end of the world was nigh, everything was going to be destroyed. The fish asked Manu to build a sturdy boat and tether it with a rope. At the instance of the fish, Manu placed in the boat, Saptarishis, followed by all the seeds that the fish mentioned. Manu collected all that the fish instructed him to and set sail on the ocean. At the right time the fish reappeared, large as a mountain, and now sporting a huge horn on its head. To this horn, Manu attached the rope. The boat was now tithered to the fish's horn. A great storm raged in the water submerging everything except the fish, Manu and the sages. Earth and the heavens were immersed in water. For an unaccountable spell of time. Till one day when the fish pulled the boat to the highest peak of Himalayas. The fish asked Manu to the visible portion of the peak. Then fish revealed it's identity as "Prajapati Brahman". Brahma infused Manu with the powers of creation and tasked him with creating all beings. The cycle of creation began afresh. Know More : https://www.speakingtree.in/blog/the-manus-the-origin-of-sin-and-trimurti-tradition

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