Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 3
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
विपश्चित्तत्र देवेन्द्र ऊर्जस्तम्भादयो द्विजाः चैत्रकिम्पुरुषाः पुत्रास्तृतीयश्चोत्तोतमो मनुः
vipaścittatra devendra ūrjastambhādayo dvijāḥ caitrakimpuruṣāḥ putrāstṛtīyaścottotamo manuḥ
There (in that Manvantara) were Vipaścit and Devendra, and the dvija sages beginning with Ūrjastambha. The sons were the Caitras and the Kimpuruṣas; and the third Manu was Ottotama.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic chronology to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Genealogical indexing for manvantara chronology: identifying Manu, Indra, rishi-line, and progeny groups used in puranic reading, ritual sankalpa lineages, and comparative purana study.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Manvantara roster: Vipaścit–Devendra–Ūrjastambha sages–Caitra/Kimpuruṣa sons–Ottotama Manu","lookup_keywords":["Vipaścit","Devendra","Ūrjastambha","Caitra","Kimpuruṣa","Ottotama"],"quick_summary":"Provides a compact roster for the manvantara in view: notable figures (Vipaścit, Devendra), a rishi set beginning with Ūrjastambha, progeny groups (Caitra, Kimpuruṣa), and the Manu named Ottotama."}
Concept: Ordering of beings through vaṃśa and manvantara succession.
Application: Supports systematic reading: distinguishing similarly named figures across cycles by anchoring them to a specific Manu and his contemporaries.
Khanda Section: Manvantara Genealogies (Manu-vamsha / Puranic Chronology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A genealogical tableau: Ottotama Manu presiding, with Devendra as Indra figure, sages led by Ūrjastambha seated in a row, and two groups of sons/peoples labeled Caitra and Kimpuruṣa presented as distinct assemblies.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Manu Ottotama with royal yet austere attire, Devendra with celestial regalia, rishis led by Ūrjastambha in ascetic garb, two grouped processions labeled Caitra and Kimpuruṣa, stylized flora, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Manu with gold halo, Devendra beside, rishi panel with Ūrjastambha, two symmetrical groups representing Caitra and Kimpuruṣa, ornate gold embossing and jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional genealogy chart rendered as a scene: seated Manu, standing Devendra, rishis in a line with name cartouches, two grouped descendants, delicate shading and restrained gold","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript-illustration feel, labeled figures, Manu on a dais, Indra-like Devendra with attendants, rishis in white, two ethnographic groups with distinct costumes, fine borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: devendra = deva-indraḥ (contextual); ūrjastambhādayo = ūrja-stambha-ādayaḥ; putrāstṛtīyaśca = putrāḥ tṛtīyaḥ ca; cottotamo = ca uttama-tamaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana vaṃśa and manvantara enumeration sequences contiguous to this passage
FAQs
This verse imparts Purāṇic chronological knowledge—identifying figures, groups, and the specific Manu of an era—used for mapping Manvantaras and lineage-based dating in Purāṇic tradition.
By cataloging Manus, sages (dvijas), and descendant groups, it functions like a reference index for cosmic history—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark encyclopedic domains alongside ritual, polity, and other sciences.
Remembering and reciting Manvantara lineages is traditionally treated as smṛti-based dharma: it supports right understanding of cosmic order (ṛta/dharma) and is considered meritorious as a form of Purāṇic śravaṇa and kīrtana.