The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c8.s1.1

c8.s1.1

Let us first look at the flood story as it is told in the *Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa*.² A small fish comes accidentally between the hands of Manu—always a paragon of ritualistic correctness—who has properly started the day with his morning ablutions. The small fish pleads with Manu to save him from the rapacious other fishes and offers in return to save Manu's life. Unruffled rather than unbelieving, Manu asks from what mortal danger the fish will save him and is told of the coming flood. Manu's next question is how he should save the fish. He is instructed to transvase it during the successive stages of its growth from a water pot to a tank, from there to the river Ganges, and finally, when full-grown, to the ocean. This accomplished, the now mighty fish tells Manu before setting out into the ocean when the flood will occur and instructs him to build a ship. The fish promises to return and to guide Manu through the flood.