Shloka 25

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

विष्णुम् आराध्य तपसा स राजर्षिः प्रियव्रतः मन्वन्तराधिपान् एतांल् लब्धवान् आत्मवंशजान्

Transliteration

viṣṇum ārādhya tapasā sa rājarṣiḥ priyavrataḥ manvantarādhipān etāṃl labdhavān ātmavaṃśajān

Translation

That royal seer Priyavrata, having worshipped Lord Viṣṇu through austere devotion, obtained—by the Lord’s sovereign grace—those rulers of the Manvantaras who were born from his own lineage.

Word by Word

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आराध्य: having worshipped
• आराध्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-राध् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having worshipped’

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• राजर्षिः: the royal sage
• राजर्षिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज-ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (राजा च ऋषिः/राज्ञः ऋषिः)

• प्रियव्रतः: Priyavrata
• प्रियव्रतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रियव्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मन्वन्तराधिपान्: rulers of the Manvantaras
• मन्वन्तराधिपान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर-अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (मन्वन्तरस्य अधिपाः)

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Visheshana (Determiner/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण

• लब्धवान्: obtained
• लब्धवान्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + क्तवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘has obtained’

• आत्मवंशजान्: born in his own lineage (descendants)
• आत्मवंशजान्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्म-वंश-ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः वंशे जाताः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: What is the cause behind Priyavrata’s attainment of Manvantara rulers in his line?

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: By worship of Viṣṇu through disciplined tapas, Priyavrata receives sovereign outcomes as divine bestowal, not mere human effort.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Unite steady practice (discipline, restraint) with personal devotion, offering results to the Lord rather than claiming ownership.

Vishishtadvaita: Grace (anugraha) of the personal Lord is the decisive factor; human effort is meaningful as service, while the Lord remains the ultimate cause and giver of fruits.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Tapas-yukta bhakti (austerity joined to devotion)

Key Kings: Priyavrata

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Lakshmi Presence: Sri

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Priyavrata
• Manvantara rulers (Manvantarādhipas)
• Royal lineage (Ātma-vaṃśa)

FAQs

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

This verse ties Manvantara governance to divine order: rulers for vast cosmic eras arise through lineage, yet their authority is ultimately received by the grace of Vishnu, who regulates time and sovereignty.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of tapas and worship in kingship?

Parāśara presents tapas and Vishnu’s worship as the spiritual foundation of legitimate rule—kingship is not merely inherited, but sanctioned through alignment with the Supreme Lord.

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

Vishnu is shown as the supreme source of cosmic administration: even dynastic succession and Manvantara rulers are established under His transcendent sovereignty.