Shloka 28

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

सुमेधा विरजाश् चैव हविष्मान् उत्तमो मधुः अतिनामा सहिष्णुश् च सप्तासन्न् इति चर्षयः

Transliteration

sumedhā virajāś caiva haviṣmān uttamo madhuḥ atināmā sahiṣṇuś ca saptāsann iti carṣayaḥ

Translation

Sumedhā and Virajā, Haviṣmān, the excellent Madhu, Atināmā, and Sahiṣṇu—these were the seven Ṛṣis, thus are the sages remembered in this Manvantara’s sacred order.

Word by Word

• सुमेधाः: Sumedhas
• सुमेधाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमेध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (ऋषि-नाम)

• विरजाः: Virajas
• विरजाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (ऋषि-नाम)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय

• हविष्मान्: Haviṣmān(s)
• हविष्मान्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविष्मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive stem)

• उत्तमः: Uttama
• उत्तमः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (ऋषि-नाम)

• मधुः: Madhu
• मधुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (ऋषि-नाम)

• अतिनामाः: Atināman(s)
• अतिनामाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (अति-नामन् = ‘Ati-nāman’, proper name)

• सहिष्णुः: Sahiṣṇu
• सहिष्णुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (ऋषि-नाम)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Numeral qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सप्त (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-अव्यय (numeral)

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• ऋषयः: sages
• ऋषयः: सम्बन्ध (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of the seven ṛṣis (saptarṣi) of the sixth Manvantara

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing, mnemonic

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Cakshusha (6th)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sages (ṛṣis) serve as stabilizing pillars of each cosmic age through tapas, insight, and transmission of dharma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor learning lineages; adopt disciplined study, restraint, and regular spiritual practice as ‘ṛṣi-like’ supports for one’s household life.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is preserved through real persons and lineages within the Lord’s world-order, not merely as abstraction.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman (philosophical)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Characters & Entities

• Sumedha
• Viraja
• Havishman
• Madhu
• Atinama
• Sahishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of the Saptarishis in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse lists the seven Ṛṣis of a Manvantara, highlighting how Vedic wisdom and dharma are preserved in each cosmic cycle under Vishnu’s overarching order.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the Manvantara structure here?

By enumerating the appointed sages for the cycle, Parāśara shows that each Manvantara has a defined spiritual leadership that sustains ritual, teaching, and cosmic stability.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Manvantara system—its sages and governance—functions as an expression of Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty maintaining universal order.