While he was ruminating over the command of the Lord, Satyavarta beheld the huge boat approach. On the seventh day the ocean began to rise.
The king awaited that time contemplating on the Lord. Saying so Lord Hari in the form of the fish vanished. In course of time the samples of men, animals and plants will be useful to fill the land again with their respective species, of course the seven sages will be of great help". When Brahma's day begins the water will begin to recede and slowly the world will begin to appear. I shall drag you along with the inmates of the boat on the turbulent water and be moving about till Brahma's night comes to an end. By that time the gale, the wind, the storm and the heavy downpour will increase to an unimaginable degree. Tie the boat to my nose without waste of time.
I shall appear before you with an elongated nose portion. Get into the boat with all the creatures and the boat will sail down the Ganges. At that time a spacious boat will be seen approaching you. When the deluge comes the three worlds will begin to disappear in the vast waters. Mark my words! Keep a few human species, a few animal species, and some seeds of plant life besides the seven sages (Saptarishis). I also want to instruct you as to what you should do to save the species of men, animals and plant life from extinction. I have come to warn you of this great deluge. Everything will perish unless suitable steps are taken in time. All the three worlds will be covered with water. The sky will open out and there will be severe downpour - a great and unprecedented flood will come. That means, there will be pitch darkness. The fish replied, "I am pleased with you. No more patience had the Rajarishi, so he asked the fish "Who are you that bewilder us in the form of a fish? You must be only Lord Narayana in this form". To his consternation he observed the fish growing and in a short time occupied the entire lake. But out of pity he removed it carefully to a big lake nearby. Next morning he went to the well and saw the fish occupying the whole well. So the good Satyavarta took the fish and put it in a big well nearby and went for his work. The fish now spoke and said "O! good king show mercy on me". To his wonder he saw the fish growing bigger and bigger occupying the entire tub. Wondering at this the good Satyavarta put the fish in a big tub. Next morning when the Rajarishi took his water-pot, he saw the tiny fish had grown to the size of the pitcher. The good Satyavarta put the fish into his small water-pot out of compassion and went to his abode. When he took water in his hand for this purpose there came a tiny fish with the water into his hand. Once Satyavarta was offering water libation in the Kritamala river. At such thought he heaved a sigh of great relief and was waiting for the night of Brahma to come.Īt that time a great royal sage by name Satyavarta was performing penance, absolutely devoted to Lord Narayana sustaining himself only on water, observing severe austerities. With the Vedas in his possession Hayagriva wanted to hide himself in some deepest abyss appear as before and not finding the Vedas, the Devas, and the Sages would be utterly powerless. (The four Vedas were given to us by Brahma - the Creator). So he decided to carry away the Vedas without anyone's knowledge as soon as Brahma began to sleep. The Vedas were the breath of the Devas, Sages and all virtuous people and because of the Vedas they were able to reset the Asuras and were always having an upper hand. He knew that the Pralaya or the deluge was to come and all living beings including plant life would be exterminated. It is at this time the horse-headed demon Hayagriva conspired with his evil friends and decided to take away the Vedas. After many many thousands of years of darkness and deluge the earth slowly comes out of the water as the water too begins to recede slowly. This continues throughout Brahma's night and again it is a very long period of time. When he goes to sleep utter darkness prevails and the earth will be submerged in water. This is said to be the the end of a very long period of time. When Brahma's day is over he goes to sleep having been busy all through with continuous work. Brahma's (the creator's) day and night - each comprises several million years unlike our day and night. Hayagriva was a very powerful demon and was causing a lot of trouble to the Devas and others as was wont with the Asuras.