Prajāpati-vaṃśānukīrtana — Genealogical Enumeration of Progenitors
Dharma’s Line and the Sādhyas
इत्येतास्तनवो जाता व्यतीताः सप्तसप्तसु / मन्वन्तरेष्वतीतेषु याभिः संरक्षिताः प्रजाः
ityetāstanavo jātā vyatītāḥ saptasaptasu / manvantareṣvatīteṣu yābhiḥ saṃrakṣitāḥ prajāḥ
Thus these embodied manifestations were born and passed away through the bygone Manvantaras, in sevens upon sevens; by them the creatures were protected.