Shloka 17

Devanagari script

सप्तर्षयः सुराः शक्रो मनुस् तत्सूनवो नृपाः एककाले हि सृज्यन्ते संह्रियन्ते च पूर्ववत्

Transliteration

saptarṣayaḥ surāḥ śakro manus tatsūnavo nṛpāḥ ekakāle hi sṛjyante saṃhriyante ca pūrvavat

Translation

The Seven Seers, the gods, Śakra (Indra), the Manu, and his sons who become kings—all are brought forth together at one time, and likewise, as before, are withdrawn into dissolution.

Word by Word

• सप्तर्षयः: the seven sages
• सप्तर्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समास (संख्यापूर्वक)

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्सूनवः: his sons
• तत्सूनवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् + सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य सूनवः)

• नृपाः: kings
• नृपाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• एककाले: at one time, simultaneously
• एककाले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (एकः कालः)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• सृज्यन्ते: are created
• सृज्यन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• संह्रियन्ते: are withdrawn/dissolved
• संह्रियन्ते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• च: and
• च: Connector (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• पूर्ववत्: as before, as formerly
• पूर्ववत्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Constituents of each Manvantara and their synchronous manifestation and withdrawal

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Each Manvantara begins with a coordinated creation of the Saptaṛṣis, devas, Indra, Manu, and royal progeny, and ends with a corresponding withdrawal.

Vedantic Theme: Maya

Application: Reflect on impermanence of offices and worlds to reduce pride and foster equanimity in success and loss.

Vishishtadvaita: The coordinated cosmic administration implies a single sovereign intelligence (Viṣṇu) orchestrating roles across cycles.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Indra (Shakra)
• Manu
• Kings

FAQs

What is the significance of the Manvantara cycle in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights that each Manvantara begins with a complete governance-and-dharma framework—Manu, Indra, the Saptarishis, the devas, and royal lineages—manifesting together, and ending with their dissolution, showing time as cyclical and ordered.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic continuity across cycles?

By using the term pūrvavat (“as before”), Parāśara emphasizes that creation and dissolution recur according to an established pattern, preserving cosmic order even as individual beings and offices change from cycle to cycle.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana frames these recurring cycles as operating under Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—He is the sustaining principle by which the same cosmic structure repeatedly arises and is withdrawn.