“Markandeya replied, ’O king, O foremost of men, there was a powerful and great Rishi of the name of Manu.  He was the son of Vivaswan and was equal unto Brahma in glory.  And he far excelled his father and grandfather in strength, in power, in fortune, as also in religious austerities.  And standing on one leg and with uplifted hand, that lord of men did severe penance in the jujube forest called Visala.  And there with head downwards and with steadfast eyes he practised the rigid and severe penance for ten thousand years.  And one day, whilst he was practising austerities there with wet clothes on and matted hair on head, a fish approaching the banks of the Chirini, addressed him thus, ’Worshipful sir, I am a helpless little fish, I am afraid of the large ones; therefore, do thou, O great devotee, think it worth thy while to protect me from them; especially as this fixed custom is well established amongst us that the strong fish always preys upon the weak ones.  Therefore do thou think it fit to save me from being drowned in this sea of terrors!  I shall requite thee for thy good offices.’  On hearing these words from the fish, Vaivaswata Manu was overpowered with pity and he took out the fish from the water with his own hands.  And the fish which had a body glistening like the rays of the moon when taken out of the water was put back in an earthen water-vessel.  And thus reared that fish O king, grew up in size and Manu tended it carefully like a child.  And after a long while, it became so large in size, that there was no room for it in that vessel.  And then seeing Manu (one day), it again addressed these words to him, ’Worshipful sir, do thou appoint some better habitation for me.’  And then the adorable Manu, the conqueror of hostile cities, took it out of that vessel and carried it to a large tank and placed it there.  And there again the fish grew for many a long year.  And although the tank was two yojanas in length and one yojana in width, even there, O lotus-eyed son of Kunti and ruler of men, was no room for the fish to play about!  And beholding Manu it said again, ’O pious and adorable father, take me to the Ganga, the favourite spouse of the Ocean so that I may live there; or do as thou listest.  O sinless one, as I have grown to this great bulk by thy favour I shall do thy bidding cheerfully.’  Thus asked the upright and continent and worshipful Manu took the fish to the river Ganga and he put it into the river with his own hands.  And there, O conqueror of thy enemies, the fish again grew for some little time and then beholding Manu, it said again, ’O lord, I am unable to move about in the Ganga on account of my great body; therefore, worshipful sir, do thou please take me quickly to the sea!’ O son of Pritha, Manu then taking it out of the Ganga, carried it to the sea and consigned it there.  And despite its great bulk, Manu transported it easily and its touch and smell were also pleasant to him.  And when it was thrown into the sea by