Shloka 32

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठः काश्यपो ऽथात्रिर् जमदग्निः सगौतमः विश्वामित्रभरद्वाजौ सप्त सप्तर्षयो ऽत्र तु

Transliteration

vasiṣṭhaḥ kāśyapo 'thātrir jamadagniḥ sagautamaḥ viśvāmitrabharadvājau sapta saptarṣayo 'tra tu

Translation

Here, indeed, the Seven Seers are these: Vasiṣṭha, Kāśyapa, and Atri; Jamadagni together with Gautama; and Viśvāmitra and Bharadvāja—these are the seven Ṛṣis here.

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• काश्यपः: Kaśyapa
• काश्यपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अथ: then/and next
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक/प्रस्तावक-अव्यय (particle: ‘then/now’)

• अत्रिः: Atri
• अत्रिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अत्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• जमदग्निः: Jamadagni
• जमदग्निः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जमदग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सगौतमः: together with Gautama / and Gautama
• सगौतमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + गौतम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—सह-तत्पुरुषः (गौतमेन सह/गौतमसहितः)

• विश्वामित्रभरद्वाजौ: Viśvāmitra and Bharadvāja
• विश्वामित्रभरद्वाजौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वामित्र + भरद्वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (इतरेतर)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (अव्यय/संख्याशब्द)
• Form: संख्यावाचक (numeral), अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; विशेषणम्—‘सप्तर्षयः’ इत्यस्य

• सप्तर्षयः: the seven sages
• सप्तर्षयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सप्तानाम् ऋषयः)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: ‘but/indeed’)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Identification of the Saptarṣis for the current Manvantara

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: revealing

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Manvantara: Vaivasvata (7th)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The stability of an age is upheld by realized ṛṣis whose tapas and teaching preserve dharma and right knowledge.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek guidance from authentic lineages and cultivate discipline (tapas, study, restraint) as supports of inner order.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is preserved through real persons and lineages functioning as instruments of the Lord’s governance (śeṣa-śeṣi relation).

Characters & Entities

• Vasiṣṭha
• Kāśyapa
• Atri
• Jamadagni
• Gautama
• Viśvāmitra
• Bharadvāja

FAQs

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

This verse identifies the Seven Seers who function as stabilizers of cosmic and ritual order, preserving dharma and transmitting Vedic knowledge through the cycles of time.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic administration in this context?

By naming the Saptarṣis, Parāśara frames creation and time-cycles as an ordered system where specific sages are entrusted with sustaining spiritual lineage and governance across a Manvantara.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the Purana’s worldview treats such cosmic offices as operating under Vishnu’s supreme ordinance—his sovereignty expressed through appointed sages.