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Matsya Avatara (मत्स्यावतारः) (view source)
Revision as of 18:52, 29 October 2019
, 18:52, 29 October 2019→महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata: Added content with citation
== महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata ==
== महाभारते मत्स्यावतारकथा ॥ Story in the Mahabharata ==
The story of Matsyavatara occurs in [https://archive.org/stream/MAHABHARATA_201902/MAHABHARATA-02#page/n595/mode/2up Adhyaya 187] of the Vana Parva in the Mahabharata. Here, Rshi Markandeya narrates the story to Yudhisthira on his request.
The story of Matsyavatara occurs in [https://archive.org/stream/MAHABHARATA_201902/MAHABHARATA-02#page/n595/mode/2up Adhyaya 187] of the Vana Parva in the Mahabharata. Here, Rshi Markandeya narrates the story to Yudhisthira on his request.
ऊर्ध्वबाहुर्विशालायां बदर्यां स नराधिपः। एकपादस्थितस्तीव्रं चकार सुमहत्तपः ॥४॥
अवाकूशिरास्तथा चापि नेत्रैरनिमिषैर्दृढम्। सोऽतप्यत तपो घोरं वर्षाणामयुतं तदा ॥५॥
Once, Manu went to Badarikashrama and did great penance for 10,000 years standing on one feet with his arms raised up in the air and head bowed low.
तं कदाचित्तपस्यन्तमार्द्रचीरजटाधरम्।। चीरिणीतीरमागम्य मत्स्यो वचनमब्रवीत् ॥६॥
भगवन्क्षुद्रमत्स्येस्मि बलवद्भ्यो भयंमम। मत्स्येभ्यो हि ततो मां त्वं त्रातुमर्हसि सुव्रत ॥७॥
दुर्बलं बलवन्तो हि मत्स्या मत्स्यं विशेषतः। भक्षयन्ति सदा वृत्तिर्विहिता नः सनातनी ॥८॥
तस्माद्भयौघान्महतो मज्जन्तं मां विशेषतः। त्रातुमर्हसि कर्तास्मि कृतेप्रतिकृतं तव ॥९॥
One day as Manu was practicing penance in the banks of the river Chirini, a fish came and said, "Oh lord, I am a small fish. I always have fear of bigger fish. Therefore, I request you to save me from them. Strong fish make the weaker ones their food. Therefore, I am sinking in the great ocean of fear. You please try to save me and I will surely help you in return.
Verse 10 onwards...
Having heard the fish, Manu was overcome with compassion. He picked the fish who was as white as the rays of the moon and put him in a pot. He took very good care of the fish who began to grow. And after a long time, it was impossible for the fish to fit within the pot. Therefore, on the request of the fish, Manu took him to a huge well where the fish continued to grow for many more years. That well was 2 yojanas in length and 1 yojana in breadth. However, the fish outgrew the same. The fish then requested Manu take him to the Ganges. Then one day the fish said, "Oh Lord, my body has grown so much that I am unable to move about even in the Ganges. Therefore, take me to the ocean." Interestingly, though the fish had grown huge, when Manu would carry him, he would become that which is easy to carry. Thus, when MAnu released him in the sea, the fish said with a smile, "Oh Lord, you have taken special care for my protection. Let me know tell you the opportunity I have got to help you. This entire creation, movable and immovable, is going to be destroyed soon. The time has come for the final Pralaya where everything will become one in the flood of waters. Therefore, I will tell you what is best for you. You should create a strong boat with a rope tied to it and ascend the same with the Saptarshis. You should also carefully collect all kinds of seeds enumerated by the ancient seers separately and place them in the boat. Having done this, you should wait for me in the boat. I will come to you with a horn in my forehead by which you can recognise me." Saying thus, the fish took leave of Manu.
Manu also gathered all the seeds, as advised, on a boat and thought of the fish. Knowing this, Lord in the form of a fish with horn came there. Manu tied the boat's rope to the horn on the head of Lord Matsya who pulled them through the salty waters for many years to come. When the entire universe was submerged in waters, only 9 people viz. the Saptarshis, Manu and Bhagavan Matsya were visible. Bhagavan Matsya pulled the boat towards the highest peak of the Himalayas asked the rishis to tie the boat to the peak. From then on, that peak came to be known as 'Naukabandhana'. Bhagavan Matsya the said to the Rishis, "I am Prajapati Brahma. I took the form of a fish in order to save you all from this calamity. Now Manu has to take up the responsibility of creating the everything movable and immovable, the power for which he will gain from serious tapas. And by my grace, he will be devoid of attachments (moha) while creating the universe. Saying thus, Bhagavan Matsya disappeared.
The Mahabharata further enumerates that this story destroys all papas. One who hears this story of Manu everyday becomes happy, attains all his desires abd can travel to all lokas.<ref>Ramanarayanadatta Shastri Pandeya, Mahabharata ([https://archive.org/stream/MAHABHARATA_201902/MAHABHARATA-02#page/n595/mode/2up Vol.2]), Gorakhpur: Gita Press.</ref>
मत्स्यपुराणे १ अध्यायः ॥ दशावतारान्तर्गतप्रथमावतारः । (Kalpadruma)
मत्स्यपुराणे १ अध्यायः ॥ दशावतारान्तर्गतप्रथमावतारः । (Kalpadruma)