Manu, the son of Vivasvat, the half-brother of Yama, settled on earth in a secluded monastery near the southern mountains. One morning, when he was washing his hands, as they do to this day, he came across a small fish in the water brought for washing. She told him: “Save my life, and I will save you.” - “What will you save me from?” - asked the surprised Manu. The fish said: “The flood will come and destroy all living beings. I will save you from him." - “How can I save your life?” “And she said: “We fish, while we are so small, are threatened with death from everywhere. One fish eats another. You first keep me in a jug, when I grow out of it, dig a pond and keep me there; and when I grow even larger, take me to the sea and release me into the open, for then death will no longer threaten me from anywhere.” Manu did just that. Soon she grew up and became a huge jhasha fish with a horn on her head; and this is the largest of all fish. And Manu released her into the sea. Then she said: “In such and such a year there will be a flood. Make a ship and wait for me. And when the flood comes, board the ship and I will save you.”
And in the year that the fish indicated to him, Manu built a ship. When the flood came, he boarded the ship and the fish swam to him. Obeying her command, Manu took with him the seeds of various plants. Then he tied a rope to the horn of the fish, and it quickly pulled his ship along the raging waves. The earth was no longer visible, the countries of the world disappeared from the eyes; there was only water around them. Manu and the fish were the only living creatures in this watery chaos. Fierce winds rocked the ship from side to side. But the fish swam and swam forward through the watery desert and finally brought Manu’s ship to the highest mountain of the Himalaya. Then she told Manu: “I saved you. Tie the ship to a tree. But be careful, the water may wash you away. Descend gradually, following the decline of the water.” Manu followed the advice of the fish. Since then, this place in the northern mountains has been called “Descent of Manu.” And the flood washed away all living creatures. Only Manu remained to continue the human race on earth.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru