Shloka 23

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

Gajendra Prelude

Devanagari script

तृतीय उत्तमो नाम प्रियव्रतसुतो मनु: । पवन: सृञ्जयो यज्ञहोत्राद्यास्तत्सुता नृप ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tṛtīya uttamo nāma priyavrata-suto manuḥ pavanaḥ sṛñjayo yajña- hotrādyās tat-sutā nṛpa

Translation

O King, the third Manu was named Uttama, a son of King Priyavrata. Among his sons were Pavana, Sṛñjaya, and Yajñahotra, and others.

Synonyms

• tṛtīyaḥ: the third
• tṛtīyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tṛtīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण

• uttamaḥ: Uttama
• uttamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun: Uttama)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामनिर्देशक (by name)

• priyavrata-sutaḥ: son of Priyavrata
• priyavrata-sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priyavrata (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (son of Priyavrata)

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• pavanaḥ: Pavana
• pavanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; नाम (proper noun, member of list)

• sṛñjayaḥ: Sṛñjaya
• sṛñjayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sṛñjaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; नाम (proper noun, member of list)

• yajñahotra-ādyāḥ: Yajñahotra and others
• yajñahotra-ādyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—member of list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajñahotra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘X-आद्याः’ = X and others (group)

• tat-sutāḥ: his sons
• tat-sutāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (his sons)

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Uttama Manu
• Priyavrata
• Pavana
• Sṛñjaya
• Yajñahotra
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

Who is Uttama Manu in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Uttama is described here as the third Manu, born as the son of Priyavrata, marking a distinct manvantara in the Bhagavatam’s timeline.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī list Manus and their descendants to Parīkṣit Mahārāja?

Śukadeva is outlining the succession of manvantaras—cosmic eras governed by different Manus—so Parīkṣit can understand how dharma and divine administration unfold through time.

What is a practical takeaway from verses about manvantaras and genealogies?

They remind us that life operates within a larger divine order; aligning one’s duties and devotion with dharma brings stability and purpose amid changing times.