Shloka 3

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

ध्रुवप्रह्लादचरितं विस्तराच् च त्वयोदितम् मन्वन्तराण्य् अशेषाणि श्रोतुम् इच्छाम्य् अनुक्रमात्

Transliteration

dhruvaprahlādacaritaṃ vistarāc ca tvayoditam manvantarāṇy aśeṣāṇi śrotum icchāmy anukramāt

Translation

You have already recounted to me in detail the sacred narratives of Dhruva and Prahlāda. Now I wish to hear, in due order, the complete succession of the Manvantaras, as they unfold.

Word by Word

• ध्रुव-प्रह्लाद-चरितम्: the account of Dhruva and Prahlāda
• ध्रुव-प्रह्लाद-चरितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्रुव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रह्लाद (प्रातिपदिक) + चरित (कृदन्त; √चर् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'the story/deeds of Dhruva and Prahlāda'

• विस्तरात्: in detail
• विस्तरात्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative used adverbially — 'in detail'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; 'by you'

• उदितम्: was spoken
• उदितम्: Kriya (Predicate/आख्यातार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उदित (कृदन्त; √वद्/√उद्?; here from √वद् 'to say' with उद्-?; standard sense 'spoken/uttered')
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त — 'said/declared' (agreeing with चरितम्)

• मन्वन्तराणि: the manvantaras
• मन्वन्तराणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; object of 'श्रोतुम्'

• अशेषाणि: all, entire
• अशेषाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; adjective qualifying 'मन्वन्तराणि' — 'all, without remainder'

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु) + तुमुन्
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); 'to hear'

• इच्छामि: I wish
• इच्छामि: Kriya (Predicate/आख्यातार्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद — 'I desire'

• अनुक्रमात्: in sequence
• अनुक्रमात्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; Ablative used adverbially — 'in order/according to sequence'

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Requests a sequential exposition of all Manvantaras after hearing Dhruva and Prahlāda narratives.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: inquiring, respectful

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Time in the Purāṇic vision unfolds through Manvantaras—ordered epochs of governance—within which dharma and divine protection recur.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate long-view patience and steadiness: personal trials are brief within cosmic time, and devotion anchors one through cycles of change.

Vishishtadvaita: Devotee narratives (Dhruva/Prahlāda) and cosmic cycles belong to one coherent order sustained by the Supreme, who responds personally within history.

Prahlada Narrative

Phase: Teaching

Bhakti Quality: Unshakeable single-pointed devotion (ekānta-bhakti) despite hostility.

Narasimha: Recollection of the Prahlāda-carita already narrated; Narasiṃha implied as the divine protector within that narrative.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva
• Prahlada
• Manu

FAQs

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

This verse marks the transition to the Purana’s systematic account of Manvantaras—time-cycles ruled by successive Manus—showing how cosmic order and dharma are renewed and administered across ages.

How does Sage Parashara explain the Manvantaras to Maitreya?

Maitreya requests an ordered, complete narration; Parashara’s method is sequential exposition—listing each Manvantara and its key rulers and divine arrangements—within the teacher-disciple dialogue.

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

By linking Dhruva and Prahlada’s devotion with the Manvantara framework, the text implies Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty: devotion culminates in His grace, and cosmic cycles proceed under His sustaining order.