Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 24

Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari

Gajendra Prelude

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठतनया: सप्त ऋषय: प्रमदादय: । सत्या वेदश्रुता भद्रा देवा इन्द्रस्तु सत्यजित् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

vasiṣṭha-tanayāḥ sapta ṛṣayaḥ pramadādayaḥ satyā vedaśrutā bhadrā devā indras tu satyajit

Translation

During the reign of the third Manu, Pramada and other sons of Vasiṣṭha became the seven sages. The Satyas, Vedaśrutas and Bhadras became demigods, and Satyajit was selected to be Indra, the King of heaven.

Synonyms

• वसिष्ठ-तनयाः: sons of Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठ-तनयाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वसिष्ठस्य तनयाः)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; बहुवचनार्थे विशेषणम् (agreeing with plural noun)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• प्रमद-आदयः: Pramada and others
• प्रमद-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमद (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रमदः आदिः येषाम्/प्रमदादयः = 'Pramada and others')

• सत्या: Satyā
• सत्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वेदश्रुता: Vedaśrutā
• वेदश्रुता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रुता (कृदन्त; √श्रु श्रवणे)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदं श्रुता/वेदश्रुता = proper name)

• भद्रा: Bhadrā
• भद्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवाः: the gods (Devas)
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• इन्द्रः: Indra
• इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/अवधारणार्थक-व्यतिरेक (but/indeed)

• सत्यजित्: Satyajit
• सत्यजित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + जित् (कृदन्त; √जि जय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सत्यं जयति इति/सत्यजित् = proper name)

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Pramada
• Satyā
• Vedaśrutā
• Bhadrā
• Indra (Satyajit)

FAQs

Who are the seven sages mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.1.24?

They are the seven ṛṣis described as the sons of Vasiṣṭha, headed by Pramada.

Why does the Bhagavatam list different Indras and demigods in each Manvantara?

Because each Manvantara has its own administrative setup for the universe—different groups of devas, sages, and a specific Indra preside according to time and cosmic order.

What is the practical lesson of Manvantara descriptions in the Bhagavata Purana?

They remind us that worldly positions—even Indra’s post—change with time, while devotion to the Supreme Lord is the lasting spiritual goal.