*SKANDHA. VIII. CHAP. 24.*
Towards the end of the previous Kalpa, Brahma was falling asleep and the
Vedas fell from his mouth. The Asura Hayagriva took them up. Seeing this
Vishnu became a small fish. King Satyavrata was making Tarpana (_i.e._
offering libations of water), when the fish found its way into his
hands. He threw it into the river. The fish implored the King to
preserve him. So he took it home and placed it in a small waterpot. The
fish increased in size so much that all tanks and rivers were tried, but
they could not contain it. At last the king took the fish to the sea,
but it implored him not to throw it away into the sea. The king then
said: -- "This fish must be the Deity Himself, otherwise how could it
grow so large?" The fish then addressed the king thus: "On the seventh
day from this, the Triloki shall be plunged into the Pralaya waters.
Then a big Ark shall come to thee. Take all plants, all seeds, all
animals, and the seven Rishis with you and get into that ark. When the
wind shakes that ark, tie it with a serpent to myself. I will remain
with that ark in the Pralaya Ocean till the awakening of Brahma. I will
manifest supreme wisdom in thee."
So saying the fish disappeared and on the seventh day the Pralaya waters
deluged the Triloki. Satya Vrata did as he was told. He got the highest
wisdom from the Fish Incarnation.
That Satya Vrata is Sraddhadeva, our present Manu.