Shloka 18

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

ज्योतिर्धामा पृथुः काव्यश् चैत्रो ऽग्निर् वनकस् तथा पीवरश् चर्षयो ह्य् एते सप्त तत्रापि चान्तरे

Transliteration

jyotirdhāmā pṛthuḥ kāvyaś caitro 'gnir vanakas tathā pīvaraś carṣayo hy ete sapta tatrāpi cāntare

Translation

Jyotirdhāman, Pṛthu, Kāvya, Caitra, Agni, Vanaka, and Pīvara—these indeed are the seven Ṛṣis within that Manvantara interval.

Word by Word

• ज्योतिर्धामा: Jyotirdhāmā
• ज्योतिर्धामा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिर् (प्रातिपदिक) + धामन्/धामा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘Jyotirdhāmā’ (proper name; lit. ‘light-abode’)

• पृथुः: Pṛthu
• पृथुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘Pṛthu’

• काव्यः: Kāvya
• काव्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘Kāvya’

• चैत्रः: Caitra
• चैत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘Caitra’

• अग्निः: Agni
• अग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘Agni’

• वनकः: Vanaka
• वनकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘Vanaka’

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयार्थक (also)

• पीवरः: Pīvara
• पीवरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘Pīvara’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘sages’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis/Reason)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — निपात (particle ‘indeed/for’)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — ‘these’

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनानुगुण — ‘seven’ (qualifies ‘ऋषयः/एते’)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (there)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• अन्तरे: in the interval
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन — ‘in (that) interval’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Names of the Saptarṣis of the Tāmasa Manvantara.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Tamasa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The world’s continuity in each Manvantara is safeguarded by ṛṣis whose tapas and insight function as guardianship (ṛṣi-dhāraṇa) of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor teachers and disciplines that preserve clarity—study, restraint, and service—as supports for social and inner order.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic stability is mediated through conscious agents (ṛṣis) who serve as instruments of the Lord’s sustaining will.

Characters & Entities

• Jyotirdhāman
• Pṛthu
• Kāvya
• Caitra
• Agni (Rishi)
• Vanaka
• Pīvara

FAQs

What is the significance of the Seven Sages (Saptarishis) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse lists the Saptarishis for a specific Manvantara interval, highlighting their role as stabilizers of dharma and transmitters of sacred knowledge across cosmic cycles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Manvantara order in this chapter?

Parāśara enumerates the appointed cosmic functionaries—especially the seven Ṛṣis—showing that each Manvantara has a structured governance that preserves universal order.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Manvantara system implies Vishnu’s sovereignty: the rishis’ authority and continuity function as expressions of the Supreme Lord’s sustaining power.