Shloka 2
Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari
Gajendra Prelude
मन्वन्तरे हरेर्जन्म कर्माणि च महीयस: । गृणन्ति कवयो ब्रह्मंस्तानि नो वद शृण्वताम् ॥ २ ॥
manvantare harer janma karmāṇi ca mahīyasaḥ gṛṇanti kavayo brahmaṁs tāni no vada śṛṇvatām
O gelehrter Brāhmaṇa, die Weisen besingen das Erscheinen Haris, des Höchsten Herrn, und Seine ruhmreichen Taten in den verschiedenen Manvantaras. Wir sind begierig zu hören; bitte berichte sie uns.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead has different varieties of incarnations, including the guṇa-avatāras, manvantara-avatāras, līlā-avatāras and yuga-avatāras, all of which are described in the śāstras. Without reference to the śāstras there can be no question of accepting anyone as an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore, as especially mentioned here, gṛṇanti kavayaḥ: the descriptions of various incarnations are accepted by great learned scholars with perfect intelligence. At the present time, especially in India, so many rascals are claiming to be incarnations, and people are being misled. Therefore, the identity of an incarnation should be confirmed by the descriptions of the śāstras and by wonderful activities. As described in this verse by the word mahīyasaḥ, the activities of an incarnation are not ordinary magic or jugglery, but are wonderful activities. Thus any incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead must be supported by the statements of the śāstra and must actually perform wonderful activities. Parīkṣit Mahārāja was eager to hear about the Manus of different ages. There are fourteen Manus during a day of Brahmā, and the age of each Manu lasts for seventy-one yugas. Thus there are thousands of Manus during the life of Brahmā.
FAQs
This verse states that in every manvantara Lord Hari manifests (janma) and performs divine deeds (karmāṇi), and sages glorify these; the listener is urged to hear them in detail.
Because the sages were assembled for sustained hearing of sacred history and theology; they request Sūta to narrate the celebrated manvantara-incarnations and deeds that enlightened sages traditionally praise.
Make regular time to hear or study authentic narrations of the Lord’s incarnations and teachings; this focused hearing strengthens devotion, clarity of purpose, and steadiness in dharma.