Shloka 18
यज्ञस्य दक्षिणायां तु पुत्रा द्वादश जज्ञिरे यामा इति समाख्याता देवाः स्वायम्भुवे मनौ
yajñasya dakṣiṇāyāṃ tu putrā dvādaśa jajñire yāmā iti samākhyātā devāḥ svāyambhuve manau
From Dakṣiṇā, the consort of Yajña, twelve sons were born; in the Manvantara of Svāyambhuva Manu they are renowned as the gods called the Yāmas, who uphold the cosmic ṛta under the supreme sovereignty of Viṣṇu.
Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Account of progeny in Svayambhuva Manvantara and the classes of devas upholding cosmic order
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Creation Stage: Manvantara
Manvantara: Svayambhuva
Concept: The Yāmas are a deva-class arising in Svāyambhuva Manu’s cycle, indicating that cosmic governance unfolds through appointed divine functionaries.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Cultivate respect for ṛta (ordered rhythm) by aligning daily conduct with discipline, time, and duty.
Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic administration is real and purposeful as the Lord’s ordered body (jagat) functioning under His sovereignty.
Vishnu Form: Narayana
FAQs
This verse identifies the Yāmas as the twelve deities born of Yajña and Dakṣiṇā, serving as the recognized class of gods in Svāyambhuva Manu’s Manvantara—signaling how divine offices shift across cosmic cycles.
By naming the Yāmas as the devas “in Svāyambhuve manau,” Parāśara indicates that each Manvantara has its own set of ruling deities and administrators who maintain dharma and cosmic order for that period.
Even while detailing births and divine classes, the Purāṇa frames such administration as part of Viṣṇu’s overarching order—deities function as instruments of the Supreme Reality’s governance of time, law, and creation.