Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 2.djvu/62

 26 HISTORY OF INDIA. [Book IV.

AD. — Compassionating its condition, SatyaTata removed it to a small vase full of water. In a single night it outgrew the vase, and was placed successively in a

Fii-st avatar cistem, a taulv. and a lake. In each of these its dimensions increased so I'apidl}', that as a last resource it was thrown into the sea. Here it resumed its complaints, and asked to be delivered from horned sharks and other great monsters of the deep. Satyavrata, astonished above measure, began to suspect the truth, and asked, "Who art thou that beguilest me in this assumed shape? Surely thou art the great God whose dwelling was on the waves. Say for what cause thou hast thus appeared?" Vishnu, disclosing himself, replied, "Seven days hence the three worlds will be plunged in an ocean of death, but in the midst of the destroying waves a large vessel sent by me for thy use shall stand before thee. Then take all medicinal herbs, all the variety of seeds, and accompanied by seven saints, encircled by pairs of all brute animals, enter the spacious ark, and continue in it secure from the flood on an immense ocean, without light except the radiance of thy companions. When the ship shall be agitated by an impetuous wind, fasten it with a large sea serpent to my horn, for I will be near thee, drawing the vessel with thee and thy attendants. I will remain on the ocean till a day of Brahma shall be ended." In due time the flood came, and all mankind perished except Satyavrata and his companions, who sailed in safety within the ship attached to the horn of the fish, which again appeared blazing like gold, and extending a million of leagues. After this deliverance Vishnu accomplished the great object of his Matsya avatar, by slaying the demon and recovering the Veda,

Second The singular resemblance which the above account bears, notwithstanding

avatar.

many ludicrous and extravagant additions, to the Mosaic account of the deluge, will justify the full detail which has been given. The second, or Varaha avatar, not possessing a similar recommendation, may be more summarily dis- missed. A powerful and malignant giant, after afflicting the earth in various ways, rolled it up into a shapeless mass, and plunged with it into the abyss. Vishnu in order to recover it issued from the side of Brahma in the shape of a varaha or boar, which at first of small dimensions became in the course of an hour as large as an elephant. After uttering a voice which sounded like thunder, and shook the universe, the boar-shaped god suddenly descended from the air, dived into the ocean, which as if in terror rolled back on either side in hucje billows, and on arriving; at the bottom where the earth lav huge and barren, poised it on one of his tusks and brought it to the surface. There it still lies floating, spread out like a carpet. Thir.i In the third, or Kurma avatar, Vishnu assumed the form of a tortoise, foi- a

very fantastic purpose. While the celestial inhabitants were seated on the sum- mit of Mount Meru, their fabled heaven, in deep meditation, earnestly longing to discover the amrita, or water of immortality, Narayan (another name for Vishnu)_ suggested to Brahma that the true way of finding it was to churn

avatar.