India · Shatapatha Brahmana 1.8.1
Manu and the fish
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What this means
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In the morning they brought to Manu water for washing… As he was washing himself, a fish came into his hands. It spake to him the word, 'Rear me, I will save thee!'
Translation: Eggeling, 1882 · About the translator
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Read it literally
A creature grows huge, warns Manu of a flood, and tows his ship to a northern mountain. A fourth independent flood account.
What scholars say
The oldest Indian flood story; later versions make the fish Vishnu's first avatar.
