Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 27

Kāla-vibhāga: The Divisions of Time from Atom to Brahmā, and the Lord Beyond Time

Devanagari script

मन्वन्तरेषु भगवान् बिभ्रत्सत्त्वं स्वमूर्तिभि: । मन्वादिभिरिदं विश्वमवत्युदितपौरुष: ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

manvantareṣu bhagavān bibhrat sattvaṁ sva-mūrtibhiḥ manv-ādibhir idaṁ viśvam avaty udita-pauruṣaḥ

Translation

In each and every change of Manu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appears by manifesting His internal potency in different incarnations, as Manu and others. Thus He maintains the universe by discovered power.

Synonyms

• मन्वन्तरेषु: in the Manvantaras
• मन्वन्तरेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; अधिकरण (स्थान)

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृ

• बिभ्रत्: bearing/assuming
• बिभ्रत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (Present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग

• सत्त्वम्: goodness (sattva)
• सत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• स्व: own
• स्व: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण; (मूर्तिभिः इत्यस्य) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनानुसारं विशेषणार्थे अव्यक्त-रूपेण समासपूर्वपद

• मूर्तिभिः: by (His) forms
• मूर्तिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; करण

• मन्वादिभिः: by Manu and others
• मन्वादिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मनु-आदि = ‘Manu and others’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण/सहकारि

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (विश्वम्) इत्यस्य विशेषण

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्म

• अवति: protects
• अवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; सकर्मक

• उदितपौरुषः: of manifest prowess
• उदितपौरुषः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदित (कृदन्त) + पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (‘whose prowess has arisen/manifested’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (भगवान्) इत्यस्य विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān
• Manu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Manvantaras and God’s role in them?

This verse says that in every Manvantara the Lord manifests His own forms and, along with Manu and other empowered leaders, protects and maintains the universe.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī mention Manu while describing cosmic time?

Because Manvantaras are measured by the reigns of Manus, and Śukadeva highlights that the Lord’s protection works through Manu and other appointed administrators in each era.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

It encourages faith that divine order operates through responsible leadership and dharmic structure, and inspires one to cultivate sattva—clarity, goodness, and devotion—while trusting the Lord’s protection.