n."
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, t