The Seven Manvantaras

Verse 1 (vishnu.3.1.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच कथिता गुरुणा सम्यग्भूसमुद्रादिसंस्थितिः । सूर्यादिनां च संस्थानं ज्योतिषां चातिविस्तरात्

maitreya uvāca kathitā guruṇā samyagbhūsamudrādisaṁsthitiḥ sūryādināṁ ca saṁsthānaṁ jyotiṣāṁ cātivistarāt

Maitreya said: O teacher, you have fully told me the true disposition of the earth, the oceans and the rest, and, in great detail, the arrangement of the sun and the other heavenly bodies.

Verse 2 (vishnu.3.1.2)

देवादीनां तथा सृष्टिर्ऋषीणां चापि वर्णिता । चातुर्वर्ण्यस्य चोत्पत्तिस्तिर्यग्योनिगतस्य च

devādīnāṁ tathā sṛṣṭirṛṣīṇāṁ cāpi varṇitā cāturvarṇyasya cotpattistiryagyonigatasya ca

You have also described the creation of the gods and of the sages, and the origin of the four varnas, and of those beings born in the wombs of beasts and birds.

Verse 3 (vishnu.3.1.3)

ध्रुवप्रह्लादचरितं विस्तराच्च त्वयोदितम् । मन्वन्तराण्यशेषाणि श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यनुक्रमात्

dhruvaprahlādacaritaṁ vistarācca tvayoditam manvantarāṇyaśeṣāṇi śrotumicchāmyanukramāt

And the story of Dhruva and of Prahlada you have related at length. Now I wish to hear, in due order, all the Manvantaras without exception.

Verse 4 (vishnu.3.1.4)

मन्वन्तराधिपांश्चैव शक्रदेवपुरोगमान् । भवता कथितानेताञ्छ्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं गुरो

manvantarādhipāṁścaiva śakradevapurogamān bhavatā kathitānetāñchrotumicchāmyahaṁ guro

And the lords of the Manvantaras, headed by Shakra (Indra) -- these, as told by you, I wish to hear, O Guru.

Verse 5 (vishnu.3.1.5)

श्रीपराशर उवाच अतीतानागतानीह यानि मन्वन्तराणि वै । तान्यहं भवतः सम्यक्कथयामि यथा क्रमम्

śrīparāśara uvāca atītānāgatānīha yāni manvantarāṇi vai tānyahaṁ bhavataḥ samyakkathayāmi yathā kramam

Sri Parashara said: Whatever Manvantaras there are, past and yet to come, all these I shall duly relate to you in due order.

Verse 6 (vishnu.3.1.6)

स्वायंभुवो मनुः पूर्वं परः स्वारोचिषस्तथा । उत्तमस्तामसश्चैव रैवतश्चाक्षुषस्तथा

svāyaṁbhuvo manuḥ pūrvaṁ paraḥ svārociṣastathā uttamastāmasaścaiva raivataścākṣuṣastathā

First was Manu Svayambhuva, then the next was Svarochisha; then Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata, and Chakshusha.

Verse 7 (vishnu.3.1.7)

षडेते मनवोतीताः सांप्रतं तु रवेः सुतः । वैवस्वतेयं यस्त्वेतत्सप्तमं वर्ततेन्तरम्

ṣaḍete manavotītāḥ sāṁprataṁ tu raveḥ sutaḥ vaivasvateyaṁ yastvetatsaptamaṁ vartatentaram

These six Manus have passed; now at present reigns the son of the Sun, Vaivasvata -- he in whom this seventh Manvantara now continues.

Verse 8 (vishnu.3.1.8)

स्वायंभुवं तु कथितं कल्पादावन्तरं मया । देवाः सप्तर्षयश्चैव यथावत्कथिता मया

svāyaṁbhuvaṁ tu kathitaṁ kalpādāvantaraṁ mayā devāḥ saptarṣayaścaiva yathāvatkathitā mayā

The Svayambhuva Manvantara, occurring at the beginning of the kalpa, I have already told you, and its gods and the Seven Sages I have likewise duly related.

Verse 9 (vishnu.3.1.9)

अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि मनोः स्वारोचिषस्य तु । मन्वन्तराधिपान्सम्यग्देवर्षिंस्तत्सुतांस्तथा

ata ūrdhvaṁ pravakṣyāmi manoḥ svārociṣasya tu manvantarādhipānsamyagdevarṣiṁstatsutāṁstathā

Henceforth I shall tell of the Manvantara of Manu Svarochisha -- its rulers, its gods and sages in full, and likewise his sons.

Verse 10 (vishnu.3.1.10)

पारावताः सतुषिता देवाः स्वारोचिषेऽन्तरे । विपश्चित्तत्र देवेन्द्रो मैत्रेयासीन्महाबलः

pārāvatāḥ satuṣitā devāḥ svārociṣe'ntare vipaścittatra devendro maitreyāsīnmahābalaḥ

In the Svarochisha Manvantara, the Paravatas and the Tushitas were the gods; there, O Maitreya, the mighty Vipashchit was the Indra of the gods.

Verse 11 (vishnu.3.1.11)

ऊर्जस्तंभस्तथा प्राणो वातोथ पृषभस्तथा । निरयश्च परीवांश्च तत्र सप्तर्षयोऽभवन्

ūrjastaṁbhastathā prāṇo vātotha pṛṣabhastathā nirayaśca parīvāṁśca tatra saptarṣayo'bhavan

Urjastambha, then Prana, Vata, and Rishabha, Niraya, and Parivan -- these became the Seven Sages of that era.

Verse 12 (vishnu.3.1.12)

चैत्रकिंपुरुषाद्याश्च सुताः स्वारोचिषस्य तु । द्वितीयमेतद्व्याख्यातमन्तरं शृणु चोत्तमम्

caitrakiṁpuruṣādyāśca sutāḥ svārociṣasya tu dvitīyametadvyākhyātamantaraṁ śṛṇu cottamam

Chaitra, Kimpurusha, and others were the sons of Svarochisha. This second Manvantara has been explained; now hear the next, the excellent one.

Verse 13 (vishnu.3.1.13)

तृतीयेप्यन्तरे ब्रह्मन्नुत्तमो नाम यो मनुः । सुशान्तिर्नाम देवेन्द्रो मैत्रेयासीत्सुताञ्छृणु

tṛtīyepyantare brahmannuttamo nāma yo manuḥ suśāntirnāma devendro maitreyāsītsutāñchṛṇu

In the third Manvantara too, O Brahmin, the Manu named Uttama ruled; Sushanti was the Indra of the gods, O Maitreya -- now hear his sons.

Verse 14 (vishnu.3.1.14)

सुधामानस्तथा सत्या जपाश्चाथ प्रतर्दनाः । वशवर्तिश्च पञ्चैते गणा द्वादशकाः स्मृताः

sudhāmānastathā satyā japāścātha pratardanāḥ vaśavartiśca pañcaite gaṇā dvādaśakāḥ smṛtāḥ

The Sudhamans, the Satyas, the Japas, the Pratardanas, and the Vashavartins -- these five groups are remembered, each numbering twelve.

Verse 15 (vishnu.3.1.15)

वसिष्ठतनया ह्येते सप्त सप्तर्षयोभवन् । अजः परशुदीप्ताद्यास्तथोत्तममनोः सुताः

vasiṣṭhatanayā hyete sapta saptarṣayobhavan ajaḥ paraśudīptādyāstathottamamanoḥ sutāḥ

These seven sons of Vasishtha became the Seven Sages; and Aja, Parashu, Dipta, and others were the sons of Manu Uttama.

Verse 16 (vishnu.3.1.16)

तामसस्यान्तरे देवाः सुपारा हरयस्तथा । सत्याश्च सुधियश्चैव सप्तविंशतिका गणाः

tāmasasyāntare devāḥ supārā harayastathā satyāśca sudhiyaścaiva saptaviṁśatikā gaṇāḥ

In the Manvantara of Tamasa, the gods were the Supāras and the Haris, and also the Satyas and the Sudhīs -- each group numbering twenty-seven.

Verse 17 (vishnu.3.1.17)

शिविरिन्द्रस्तथा चासीच्छतयज्ञोपलक्षमः । सप्तर्षयश्च ये तेषां तेषां नामानि मे शृणु

śivirindrastathā cāsīcchatayajñopalakṣamaḥ saptarṣayaśca ye teṣāṁ teṣāṁ nāmāni me śṛṇu

There Shibi was Indra, distinguished by a hundred sacrifices; and hear from me the names of the Seven Sages of that time.

Verse 18 (vishnu.3.1.18)

ज्योतिर्धामा पुथुः कात्यश्चैत्रोग्निर्धनकस्तथा । पीवरश्चर्षयो ह्येते सप्त तत्रापि चान्तरे

jyotirdhāmā puthuḥ kātyaścaitrognirdhanakastathā pīvaraścarṣayo hyete sapta tatrāpi cāntare

Jyotirdhaman, Pruthu, Katya, Chaitra, Agni, Dhanaka, and Pivara -- these seven were the sages in that Manvantara as well.

Verse 19 (vishnu.3.1.19)

नरः ख्यातिः केतुरूपो जानुजङ्घादयस्तथा । पुत्रास्तु तामसस्यासन्नाजानः सुमहाबलाः

naraḥ khyātiḥ keturūpo jānujaṅghādayastathā putrāstu tāmasasyāsannājānaḥ sumahābalāḥ

Nara, Khyati, Keturupa, Janujangha, and others were the mighty, highborn sons of Tamasa.

Verse 20 (vishnu.3.1.20)

पञ्चमे वापि मैत्रेय रैवतो नाम नामतः । मनुर्विभुश्च तत्रेन्द्रो देवांश्चात्रान्तरे शृणु

pañcame vāpi maitreya raivato nāma nāmataḥ manurvibhuśca tatrendro devāṁścātrāntare śṛṇu

And in the fifth Manvantara too, O Maitreya, the Manu was named Raivata; Vibhu was Indra there -- now hear of the gods of this Manvantara.

Verse 21 (vishnu.3.1.21)

अमिताभा भूतरया वैकुण्ठाः सुसमेधसः । एते देवगणास्तत्र चतुर्दश चतुर्दश

amitābhā bhūtarayā vaikuṇṭhāḥ susamedhasaḥ ete devagaṇāstatra caturdaśa caturdaśa

The Amitabhas, the Bhutarayas, the Vaikunthas, and the Susamedhases -- these were the groups of gods there, each of the four groups numbering fourteen.

Verse 22 (vishnu.3.1.22)

हिरण्यरोमा वेदाश्रिरूर्ध्वबाहुस्तथावरः । वेदबाहुः सुधामा च पर्जन्यश्च महामुनिः । एते सप्तर्षयो विप्र तत्रासन्रैवतेन्तरे

hiraṇyaromā vedāśrirūrdhvabāhustathāvaraḥ vedabāhuḥ sudhāmā ca parjanyaśca mahāmuniḥ ete saptarṣayo vipra tatrāsanraivatentare

Hiranyaroma, Vedashri, Urdhvabahu, and Avara, Vedabahu, Sudhama, and the great sage Parjanya -- O Brahmin, these were the Seven Sages in the Raivata Manvantara.

Verse 23 (vishnu.3.1.23)

बलबन्धुश्च संभाव्यः सत्यकाद्याश्च तत्सुताः । नरेन्द्राश्च महावीर्या बभूवुर्मुनिसत्तम

balabandhuśca saṁbhāvyaḥ satyakādyāśca tatsutāḥ narendrāśca mahāvīryā babhūvurmunisattama

Balabandhu, Sambhavya, Satyaka, and others were his sons -- they became kings of great valor, O best of sages.

Verse 24 (vishnu.3.1.24)

स्वारोचिषश्चौत्तमश्च तामसो रैवतस्तथा । प्रियव्रतान्वया ह्येते चत्वारो मनवः स्मृताः

svārociṣaścauttamaśca tāmaso raivatastathā priyavratānvayā hyete catvāro manavaḥ smṛtāḥ

Svarochisha, and Uttama, Tamasa, and Raivata -- these four Manus are remembered as descendants of Priyavrata.

Verse 25 (vishnu.3.1.25)

विष्णुमाराध्य तपसा स राजर्षिः प्रियव्रतः । मन्वन्तराधिपानेताल्लंब्धवानात्मवंशजान्

viṣṇumārādhya tapasā sa rājarṣiḥ priyavrataḥ manvantarādhipānetāllaṁbdhavānātmavaṁśajān

That royal sage Priyavrata, having worshipped Vishnu through austerity, obtained these lords of the Manvantaras as scions of his own lineage.

Verse 26 (vishnu.3.1.26)

षष्ठे मन्वंरते चासीच्चाक्षुषाख्यस्तथा मनुः । मनोजवस्तथैवेन्द्रो देवानपि निबोध मे

ṣaṣṭhe manvaṁrate cāsīccākṣuṣākhyastathā manuḥ manojavastathaivendro devānapi nibodha me

In the sixth Manvantara there was the Manu named Chakshusha, and Manojava likewise was Indra -- learn from me also the gods of that era.

Verse 27 (vishnu.3.1.27)

आप्याः प्रसूता भव्याश्च पृथुकाश्चा दिवौकसः । महानुभावा लेखाश्च पञ्चैते ह्यष्टका गणाः

āpyāḥ prasūtā bhavyāśca pṛthukāścā divaukasaḥ mahānubhāvā lekhāśca pañcaite hyaṣṭakā gaṇāḥ

The Apyas, the Prasutas, the Bhavyas, the Prithukas and other sky-dwellers, the Mahanubhavas, and the Lekhas -- these five groups, each numbering eight.

Verse 28 (vishnu.3.1.28)

सुमेधा विरजाश्चैव हविष्मानुत्तमो मधुः । अतिनामा सहिष्णुश्च सप्तासन्निति चर्षयः

sumedhā virajāścaiva haviṣmānuttamo madhuḥ atināmā sahiṣṇuśca saptāsanniti carṣayaḥ

Sumedhas, Viraja, Havishman, Uttama, Madhu, Atinaman, and Sahishnu -- these seven were the sages, it is said.

Verse 29 (vishnu.3.1.29)

ऊरुः पूरुः शतद्युम्नप्रमुखाः सुमहाबलाः । चाक्षुषस्य मनोः पुत्राः पृथिवीपतयोऽभवन्

ūruḥ pūruḥ śatadyumnapramukhāḥ sumahābalāḥ cākṣuṣasya manoḥ putrāḥ pṛthivīpatayo'bhavan

Uru, Puru, Shatadyumna and others of great might -- these, the sons of Manu Chakshusha, became lords of the earth.

Verse 30 (vishnu.3.1.30)

विवस्वतः सुतो विप्र श्राद्धदेवो महाद्युतिः । मनुः संवर्तते धीमान् सांप्रतं सप्तमेन्तरे

vivasvataḥ suto vipra śrāddhadevo mahādyutiḥ manuḥ saṁvartate dhīmān sāṁprataṁ saptamentare

The son of Vivasvat, O Brahmin, resplendent Shraddhadeva, the wise Manu -- he now presides in this present seventh Manvantara.

Verse 31 (vishnu.3.1.31)

आदित्यवसुरुद्राद्या देवाश्चात्र महामुने । पुरन्दरस्तथैवात्र मैत्रेय त्रिदशेश्वरः

ādityavasurudrādyā devāścātra mahāmune purandarastathaivātra maitreya tridaśeśvaraḥ

The Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras and others are the gods here, O great sage; and here too, O Maitreya, Purandara is the lord of the thirty gods.

Verse 32 (vishnu.3.1.32)

वशिष्ठः काश्यपोथात्रिर्जमदग्निः सगौतमः । विश्वामित्रभरद्वाजौ सप्त सप्तर्षयोऽभवन्

vaśiṣṭhaḥ kāśyapothātrirjamadagniḥ sagautamaḥ viśvāmitrabharadvājau sapta saptarṣayo'bhavan

Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, together with Gautama, and Vishvamitra and Bharadvaja -- these seven are the Seven Sages of this Manvantara.

Verse 33 (vishnu.3.1.33)

इक्ष्वाकुश्च नृगश्चैव धृष्टः शर्यातिरेव च । नरिष्यन्तश्च विख्यातो नाभागोरिष्ट एव च

ikṣvākuśca nṛgaścaiva dhṛṣṭaḥ śaryātireva ca nariṣyantaśca vikhyāto nābhāgoriṣṭa eva ca

Ikshvaku, and Nriga, Dhrishta, and Sharyati too, and the renowned Narishyanta, Nabhaga, and Arishta,

Verse 34 (vishnu.3.1.34)

करूषश्च पृषध्रश्च सुमहांल्लोकविश्रुतः । मनोर्वैवस्वतस्यैते नव पुत्राः सुधार्मिकाः

karūṣaśca pṛṣadhraśca sumahāṁllokaviśrutaḥ manorvaivasvatasyaite nava putrāḥ sudhārmikāḥ

and Karusha, and the world-renowned, mighty Prishadhra -- these are the nine righteous sons of Manu Vaivasvata.

Verse 35 (vishnu.3.1.35)

विष्णुशक्तिरनौपम्या सत्त्वोद्रिक्ता स्थितौ स्थिता । मन्वन्तरेष्वशेषेषु देवत्वेनाधितिष्ठति

viṣṇuśaktiranaupamyā sattvodriktā sthitau sthitā manvantareṣvaśeṣeṣu devatvenādhitiṣṭhati

The incomparable power of Vishnu, abounding in sattva and established in the function of preservation, presides as divinity throughout all the Manvantaras without exception.

Verse 36 (vishnu.3.1.36)

अंशेन तस्या जज्ञेऽसौ यज्ञःस्वायंभुवेन्तरे । आकूत्यां मानसो देव उत्पन्नः प्रथमेन्तरे

aṁśena tasyā jajñe'sau yajñaḥsvāyaṁbhuventare ākūtyāṁ mānaso deva utpannaḥ prathamentare

By a portion of that power, he was born as Yajna in the Svayambhuva Manvantara -- the mind-born god, produced from Akuti in the first Manvantara.

Verse 37 (vishnu.3.1.37)

ततः पुनः स वै देवः प्राप्ते स्वारोचिषेन्तरे । तुषितायां समुत्पन्नो ह्याजिषस्तुषितैः सह

tataḥ punaḥ sa vai devaḥ prāpte svārociṣentare tuṣitāyāṁ samutpanno hyājiṣastuṣitaiḥ saha

Then, when the Svarochisha Manvantara arrived, that same god was born from Tushita as Ajita, together with the Tushita gods.

Verse 38 (vishnu.3.1.38)

औत्तमप्यन्तरे देवस्तुषितस्तु पुनः स वै । सत्यायामभवत्सत्यः सत्यैः सह सुरोत्तमैः

auttamapyantare devastuṣitastu punaḥ sa vai satyāyāmabhavatsatyaḥ satyaiḥ saha surottamaiḥ

In the Manvantara of Uttama too, that same god who had been Tushita was born again, as Satya from Satya, together with the best of the Satya gods.

Verse 39 (vishnu.3.1.39)

तामसस्यान्तरे चैव संप्राप्तो पुनरेव हि । हर्यायां हरिभिः सार्ध हरिरेव बभूव ह

tāmasasyāntare caiva saṁprāpto punareva hi haryāyāṁ haribhiḥ sārdha harireva babhūva ha

And in the Manvantara of Tamasa, arriving once again, he himself became Hari, born from Harya, together with the Hari gods.

Verse 40 (vishnu.3.1.40)

रैवतेप्यन्तरे देवःसंभूत्यां मानसो हरिः । संभूतो रैवतैः सार्ध देवैर्देववरो हरिः

raivatepyantare devaḥsaṁbhūtyāṁ mānaso hariḥ saṁbhūto raivataiḥ sārdha devairdevavaro hariḥ

In the Raivata Manvantara too, that same mind-born god Hari, best of gods, was born from Sambhuti, together with the Raivata gods.

Verse 41 (vishnu.3.1.41)

चाक्षुषे चान्तरे देवो वैकुण्ठः पुरुषोत्तमः । विकुण्ठायामसौ जज्ञे वैकुण्ठैर्दैवतैः सह

cākṣuṣe cāntare devo vaikuṇṭhaḥ puruṣottamaḥ vikuṇṭhāyāmasau jajñe vaikuṇṭhairdaivataiḥ saha

And in the Chakshusha Manvantara, that supreme being was born as Vaikuntha from Vikuntha, together with the Vaikuntha gods.

Verse 42 (vishnu.3.1.42)

मन्वन्तरेत्र संप्राप्ते तथा वैवस्वते द्विज । वामनः काश्यपाद्विष्णुरदित्यां संबभूव ह

manvantaretra saṁprāpte tathā vaivasvate dvija vāmanaḥ kāśyapādviṣṇuradityāṁ saṁbabhūva ha

And when this Manvantara arrived, the Vaivasvata era, O Brahmin, Vishnu was born as Vamana from Kashyapa and Aditi.

Verse 43 (vishnu.3.1.43)

त्रिभिः क्रमैरिमांल्लोकाञ्जित्वा येन महात्मना । पुरन्दराय त्रैलोक्यं दत्तं निहतकण्टकम्

tribhiḥ kramairimāṁllokāñjitvā yena mahātmanā purandarāya trailokyaṁ dattaṁ nihatakaṇṭakam

That great soul, having conquered these worlds with three strides, gave the three worlds, cleared of thorns, to Purandara.

Verse 44 (vishnu.3.1.44)

इत्येतास्तनवस्तस्य सप्तमन्वन्तरेषु वै । सप्तस्वेवाभवन्विप्र याभिः संवर्धिताः प्रजाः

ityetāstanavastasya saptamanvantareṣu vai saptasvevābhavanvipra yābhiḥ saṁvardhitāḥ prajāḥ

Thus, O Brahmin, these are his forms in the seven Manvantaras -- by which, in each of the seven, the creatures were nurtured.

Verse 45 (vishnu.3.1.45)

यस्माद्विष्टमिदं विश्वं यस्य शक्त्या महात्मनः । तस्मात्स प्रोच्यते विष्णुर्विशोर्धातोः प्रवेशनात्

yasmādviṣṭamidaṁ viśvaṁ yasya śaktyā mahātmanaḥ tasmātsa procyate viṣṇurviśordhātoḥ praveśanāt

Since this whole universe is pervaded by the power of that great soul, therefore he is called Vishnu, from the root 'vish', meaning 'to enter, to pervade'.

Verse 46 (vishnu.3.1.46)

सर्वे च देवा मनवः समस्ताः सप्तर्षयो ये मनुसूनवश्च । इन्द्रश्चयोऽयं त्रिदशेशभूतो विष्णोरशोषास्तु विभूतयस्ताः

sarve ca devā manavaḥ samastāḥ saptarṣayo ye manusūnavaśca indraścayo'yaṁ tridaśeśabhūto viṣṇoraśoṣāstu vibhūtayastāḥ

All the gods, all the Manus, all the Seven Sages, and the sons of Manu, and this Indra who has become lord of the thirty gods -- all these are undiminished manifestations of Vishnu.