Who was the Third Manu

[Nil Thapliyal]

Uttam was the son of King Uttanapada. His wife Vahula did not love him and he abandoned her in the forest. Later a Brahmin approached Uttam and said that his wife had been kidnapped. Since Uttam collected taxes it was his duty to locate and return the kidnapped wife. While searching for the Brahmin woman, Uttam reached a hermitage where he was not received with due courtesy. The sage told him that since he had forsaken his wife he had lost the claim to be courteously received. However the sage revealed that the demon Valaha had kidnapped the Brahmin woman. Uttam then accosted Valaha and demanded to know the reason for the kidnapping. Valaha said that the Brahmin was conducting a sacrifice against him but without his wife he could not proceed. Uttam patched up things between Valaha and the Brahmin. He then asked Valaha to bring back Vahula from the kingdom of the Nagas. Both Uttam and Vahula resolved to begin their married life afresh. A son Outtama was born to them, who later became the third Manu.