Shloka 21
Adhyāya 188: Mārkaṇḍeya’s Account of Yuga-Decline and the Restoration Motif
Kali-yuga to Kalki
एवमुक्तो मनुर्मत्स्यमनयद् भगवान् वशी । नदीं गड्डां तत्र चैनं स्वयं प्राक्षिपदच्युत:,मत्स्यके ऐसा कहनेपर जितेन्द्रिय, अपनी मर्यादासे कभी च्युत न होनेवाले भगवान् मनुने उसे स्वयं ले जाकर गंगामें डाल दिया
evam ukto manur matsyam anayad bhagavān vaśī | nadīṁ gaṅgāṁ tatra cainaṁ svayaṁ prākṣipad acyutaḥ ||
Mārkaṇḍeya berkata: “Setelah mendengar demikian, Manu yang berdisiplin diri dan diberkati itu membawa ikan tersebut, lalu dengan teguh pada batasan dan kewajipannya, dia sendiri mencampakkannya ke dalam sungai Gaṅgā.”
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Disciplined compassion: one should respond to a vulnerable being’s request with care, yet act thoughtfully and responsibly, guided by self-control and dharma rather than impulse.
After the fish speaks and requests help, Manu personally takes it and places it into the river Gaṅgā, continuing his role as a careful protector in the unfolding Matsya narrative.