Shloka 3

Manvantara Administration: Appointment of Manus, Indras, and the Restoration of Dharma

Devanagari script

यज्ञादयो या: कथिता: पौरुष्यस्तनवो नृप । मन्वादयो जगद्यात्रां नयन्त्याभि: प्रचोदिता: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

yajñādayo yāḥ kathitāḥ pauruṣyas tanavo nṛpa manv-ādayo jagad-yātrāṁ nayanty ābhiḥ pracoditāḥ

Translation

O King, I have already described to you various incarnations of the Lord, such as Yajña. Inspired and directed by these incarnations, Manu and the others are chosen, and they conduct the affairs of the universe.

Synonyms

• यज्ञ-आदयः: Yajña and others
• यज्ञ-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘यज्ञ’ इत्यादयः

• याः: who (f.)
• याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative: “who/which”)

• कथिताः: have been described
• कथिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथ् (धातु) → कथित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; “have been described”

• पौरुष्याः: belonging to the Supreme Person
• पौरुष्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘तनवः’)

• तनवः: manifest forms/expansions
• तनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचन

• मनु-आदयः: Manu and others
• मनु-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• जगत्-यात्राम्: the world’s course/maintenance
• जगत्-यात्राम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + यात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (the course/maintenance of the world)

• नयन्ति: carry on; lead
• नयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• आभिः: by these (forms)
• आभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (by these)

• प्रचोदिताः: impelled
• प्रचोदिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-चुद् (धातु) → प्रचोदित (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत् (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; “impelled/urged”

Purport

The Manus execute the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various incarnations.

Characters & Entities

• Yajña
• Manu
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about who maintains the world’s order?

This verse says that Manu and other administrators maintain the world’s course, being impelled and empowered by the Supreme Lord’s expansions such as Yajña.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī say this to King Parīkṣit?

Parīkṣit is hearing about cosmic governance; Śukadeva clarifies that worldly rulers like Manu do not act independently—divine forms of the Lord inspire and authorize their administration.

Practical application of divine empowerment and duty (dharma) in modern life?

Do your responsibilities sincerely, while remembering the higher source of guidance—act as an instrument of dharma rather than from ego or the idea of independent control.