Who was the Fourth Manu

[Nil Thapliyal]

King Svarashtra was blessed with a long life. Unfortunately his wives did not share that boon and died leaving the king alone. The desolate king was once meditating by the banks of the River Vitasta. A storm arose and the river burst its banks. As Svarashtra was being carried away by the torrent he saw a doe and clung on to its tail. The doe pulled the sage into the underworld and emerged in a pleasure grove. There she narrated a story. A girl named Utpalavati had once chased a deer. Unfortunately the deer was sage Sutapah in disguise and she was cursed to become a doe in her next life. Later Utpalavati married Svarashtra. However she died and had to become a doe. Svarashtra was overjoyed to meet his favorite wife. The years of separation resulted in a fruitful union and a son was born. Since the boy was born in the darkness of the underworld he was named Tamas. Later Tamas became the fourth Manu.