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, the born of Manu!--Manu saw the sea-borne fish, In his form foreshewn, the horned--like a mountain huge and high. To the fish's head his cable, Manu bound--O king of men! Strong and firm his cable wound he--round and round on either horn: And the fish, all conquering raja!--with that twisted cable bound, With the utmost speed that vessel--dragged along the ocean tide. In his bark along the ocean--boldly went the king of men: Dancing with the tumbling billows--dashing through the roaring spray, Tossed about by winds tumultuous--in the vast and heaving sea, Like a trembling, drunken woman--reeled that ship, O king of men. Earth was seen no more, no region--nor the intermediate space; All around a waste of water--water all, and air and sky. In the whole world of creation--princely son of Bharata! None was seen but those seven Sages--Manu only, and the fish.