Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
सुशान्तिरिन्द्रो देवाश् च सुधामाद्या वशिष्ठजाः सप्तर्षयो ऽजाद्याः पुत्राश् चतुर्थस्तामसी मनुः
suśāntirindro devāś ca sudhāmādyā vaśiṣṭhajāḥ saptarṣayo 'jādyāḥ putrāś caturthastāmasī manuḥ
سوشانتي (Suśānti) كان إندرا؛ وكانت الآلهة هي الجماعات التي تبدأ بسودهاما (Sudhāmā). أما الحكماء السبعة فكانوا أبناء فاسيشتها (Vasiṣṭha)؛ وأبناء (مانو) هم الذين يبدأون بأجا (Aja). والمانو الرابع هو تاماسا (Tāmasa) مانو.
Lord Agni (narrating puranic cosmology to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Manvantara identification: ties Indra-name, deva-group, Saptarṣi lineage (Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ), and Manu-name (Tāmasa) for chronological cross-checking across puranic narratives.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Tāmasa-manvantara: Suśānti Indra, Sudhāmā deva-group, Vasiṣṭha’s sons as Saptarṣis, Aja-line sons","lookup_keywords":["Tāmasa Manu","Suśānti","Sudhāmā","Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ Saptarṣi","Aja"],"quick_summary":"Defines the Tāmasa-manvantara roster: Indra Suśānti, gods beginning with Sudhāmā, Saptarṣis born of Vasiṣṭha, and Manu’s sons beginning with Aja."}
Concept: Authority transmission through rishi-lineage within cyclical time (manvantara).
Application: Use Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ marker to reconcile variant Saptarṣi lists across texts and commentarial traditions.
Khanda Section: Manvantara and Sarga Genealogies (Cosmic Chronology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Tāmasa-manvantara assembly: Indra Suśānti enthroned; Sudhāmā-led gods gathered; seven sages depicted as Vasiṣṭha’s sons; Manu Tāmasa with sons beginning with Aja shown as a lineage group.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Indra Suśānti with vajra and crown, deva-gaṇa led by Sudhāmā in clustered formation, Vasiṣṭha with seven sons as rishis, Manu Tāmasa with Aja and other sons, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-backed celestial court, Suśānti central, Sudhāmā and gods in ornate attire, Vasiṣṭha and seven rishis with halos, Manu Tāmasa with sons, heavy gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, balanced didactic grouping with labels: Suśānti, Sudhāmā, Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ Saptarṣi, Aja-line sons; soft colors, precise linework, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript scene with multiple registers: Indra on pavilion, gods in attendance, Vasiṣṭha with seven ascetics, Manu with sons, intricate textiles and borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: suśāntirindro = suśāntiḥ indraḥ; devāś = devāḥ; saptarṣayo 'jādyāḥ = saptarṣayaḥ ajādyāḥ; putrāś = putrāḥ; caturthastāmasī = caturthaḥ tāmasī.
Related Themes: Agni Purana manvantara-krama passages listing Tāmasa and adjacent manvantaras
FAQs
This verse imparts Purāṇic cosmological enumeration (Manvantara-vidyā): identifying the presiding Indra, the class of gods, the Saptarṣis, and the progeny associated with the fourth Manvantara under Tāmasa Manu.
By cataloging Manvantara-specific officials (Indra), divine groups, and rishi lineages, it functions like a reference index for Purāṇic chronology—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark encyclopedic domains alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Remembering and reciting Manvantara lineages is traditionally treated as smṛti-based puṇya: it stabilizes dharmic worldview by situating beings within cosmic time-cycles and honors ṛṣis and devas as transmitters of order (ṛta/dharma).