Shloka 14

मानससृष्टिः, रुद्रोत्पत्तिः, मन्वादिवंशः, प्रलयचतुष्टयम्

Devanagari script

ततो ब्रह्मात्मसंभूतं पूर्वं स्वायम्भुवं प्रभुः आत्मानम् एव कृतवान् प्राजापत्ये मनुं द्विज

Transliteration

tato brahmātmasaṃbhūtaṃ pūrvaṃ svāyambhuvaṃ prabhuḥ ātmānam eva kṛtavān prājāpatye manuṃ dvija

Translation

Then the Lord—who brings forth Brahmā from His own Self—first fashioned Svāyambhuva Manu from His very being, O twice-born, and appointed him to the Prajāpati office.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अपादान/कालार्थक क्रियाविशेषणम् (thereupon/then)

• ब्रह्मात्मसंभूतम्: born from Brahmā’s self
• ब्रह्मात्मसंभूतम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + आत्मन् + सम्भूत (प्रातिपदिक; √भू क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः आत्मनः सम्भूतम् = born from Brahmā's self)

• पूर्वम्: first
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावेन प्रयुक्तम्; क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb: first/previously)

• स्वायम्भुवम्: Svāyambhuva (Manu)
• स्वायम्भुवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वायम्भुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; विशेषणरूपेण मनोः

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• आत्मानम्: himself
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; प्रत्यवमर्श (reflexive)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; अवधारणार्थक निपातः (emphatic particle)

• कृतवान्: made/created
• कृतवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु) + कृतवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्तवत्)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृत् (past active participle); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (he having made = he made)

• प्राजापत्ये: in the Prajāpatya (line/office)
• प्राजापत्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राजापत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (अधिकरण), एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (in the Prajāpatya [order/line])

• मनुम्: Manu
• मनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्

• द्विज: O twice-born (brāhmaṇa)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Origin of Manu and the ordering of progeny after Brahmā’s manifestation

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Svayambhuva

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Lord, from whom Brahmā arises, establishes Svāyambhuva Manu from His own being to execute the Prajāpati role of creation and governance.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: See social order and responsibility (governance, stewardship, parenting) as sacred duties derived from divine appointment, to be performed as service rather than ego.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord remains the ultimate cause while empowering real agents (Brahmā, Manu) as dependent instruments within His body (śarīra-śarīrī-bhāva).

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Prajā-pālana (righteous governance)

Key Kings: Svayambhuva Manu

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Svayambhuva Manu
• Dvija (Maitreya)

FAQs

What is the significance of Svayambhuva Manu in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse presents Svayambhuva Manu as the first Manu, constituted by the Lord to function in the Prajāpati capacity—initiating the ordered propagation and governance of beings.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the origin of cosmic rulers like Manu?

Parāśara frames Manu’s authority as derivative of the Supreme Lord: Manu is not self-originating in power, but established by the Lord as part of the cosmic order and lineage of creation.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Vishnu is implied as the supreme sovereign source—so transcendent that even Brahmā is said to arise from His Self—thereby grounding creation and governance (Manu’s office) in Vishnu’s ultimate reality.