Matsya and King Manu: The Divine Fish Who Saved Life from the Great Flood

In the ancient past, there was a king named Manu, a wise and righteous ruler. One day, while performing his morning prayers by the river, he encountered a tiny fish struggling in the water. The fish spoke to him, saying, “O King, protect me, for I am small and vulnerable.”

Manu, compassionate as he was, took the fish into his hands and placed it in a small jar. However, the fish soon outgrew the jar. Manu moved it to a bigger container, but the fish continued to grow rapidly. He finally placed the fish in a lake, and it grew even larger. Eventually, Manu took the fish to the ocean, where it revealed itself as Lord Vishnu in his Matsya form.

Matsya warned Manu that a great flood, known as Pralaya, would soon engulf the Earth. Vishnu instructed Manu to build a large ship and gather his family, pairs of all creatures, and the seven great sages, the Saptarishis. When the flood came, Matsya towed the ship through the rising waters and ensured the survival of life on Earth.

As the floodwaters receded, Manu’s ship landed on the high peaks of the Himalayas. Under his guidance, life was renewed, and he became the progenitor of the next cycle of creation.

Moral: The story of Matsya and King Manu teaches that divine guidance protects those who act righteously, and that even in times of disaster, life will find a way to continue.