ou-Cheops was building his pyramid, according to Egyptian
chronicle, when the whole world was under the waters of a universal
deluge, according to the Hebrew chronicle.[24:5] A number of other
nations of antiquity are found destitute of any story of a flood,[24:6]
which they certainly would have had if a universal deluge had ever
happened. Whether this legend is of high antiquity in India has even
been doubted by distinguished scholars.[24:7]

The _Hindoo_ legend of the Deluge is as follows:

"Many ages after the creation of the world, Brahma resolved to
destroy it with a deluge, on account of the wickedness of the
people. There lived at that time a pious man named
_Satyavrata_, and as the lord of the universe loved this pious
man, and wished to preserve him from the sea of destruction
which was to appear on account of the depravity of the age, he
appeared before him in the form of _Vishnu_ (the Preserver)
and said: In _seven_ days from the present time . . . the
worlds will be plunged in an ocean of death, but in the midst
of the destroying waves, a large vessel, sent by me for thy
use, shall stand before thee. Then shalt thou take all
medicinal herbs, all the variety of feeds, and, accompanied by
_seven_ saints, encircled by _pairs_ of all brute animals,
thou shalt enter the spacious ark, and continue in it, secure
from the flood, on one immense ocean without light, except the
radiance of thy holy companions. When the ship shall be
agitated by an impetuous wind, thou shalt fasten it with a
large sea-serpent on my horn; for I will be near thee (in
the form of a fish), drawing the vessel, with thee and thy
attendants. I will remain on the ocean, O chief of men, until
a night of _Brahma_ shall be completely ended. Thou shalt then
know my true greatness, rightly named the Supreme Godhead; by
my favor, all thy questions shall be answered, and thy mind
abundantly instructed."

Being thus directed, Satyavrata humbly waited for the time which the
ruler of our senses had appointed. It was not long, however, before the
sea, overwhelming its shores, began to deluge the whole earth, and it
was soon perceived to be augmented by showers from immense clouds. He,
still meditating on the commands of the Lord, saw a vessel advancing,
and entered it with the saints, after having carried into effect the
instructions