Shloka 3
The Dynasty of Vaivasvata Manu Begins — Ilā/Sudyumna and the Birth of Purūravā
योऽसौ सत्यव्रतो नाम राजर्षिर्द्रविडेश्वर: । ज्ञानं योऽतीतकल्पान्ते लेभे पुरुषसेवया ॥ २ ॥ स वै विवस्वत: पुत्रो मनुरासीदिति श्रुतम् । त्वत्तस्तस्य सुता:प्रोक्ता इक्ष्वाकुप्रमुखा नृपा: ॥ ३ ॥
yo ’sau satyavrato nāma rājarṣir draviḍeśvaraḥ jñānaṁ yo ’tīta-kalpānte lebhe puruṣa-sevayā
Satyavrata, the saintly royal sage and lord of Draviḍadeśa, attained divine knowledge at the end of the previous kalpa by serving the Supreme Puruṣa. It is heard in śruti that he later became Vaivasvata Manu, the son of Vivasvān. From you I have received this knowledge, and I understand that kings headed by Ikṣvāku were his sons, as you have already explained.
FAQs
Vaivasvata Manu is the Manu of the present manvantara, described here as the son of Vivasvān (the sun-god) and identified with Satyavrata.
It introduces Ikṣvāku as the foremost among Manu’s sons (or royal descendants) whose line of kings will be described next.
It encourages faith in guru-paramparā and śāstra—receiving spiritual history and dharma through authentic hearing (śravaṇa) and honoring sacred lineage.