Shloka 4

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

मन्वन्तराधिपांश् चैव शक्रदेवपुरोगमान् भवता कथितान् एताञ् श्रोतुम् इच्छाम्य् अहं गुरो

Transliteration

manvantarādhipāṃś caiva śakradevapurogamān bhavatā kathitān etāñ śrotum icchāmy ahaṃ guro

Translation

O Guru, I wish to hear in full about the rulers of the Manvantaras, and about the assemblies of gods led by Śakra (Indra), which you have spoken of.

Word by Word

• मन्वन्तर-अधिपान्: the rulers of the manvantaras
• मन्वन्तर-अधिपान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; 'lords of the manvantaras'

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Nipata (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• शक्र-देव-पुरोगमान्: having Indra as the leader
• शक्र-देव-पुरोगमान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक; पुरस् + √गम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: 'शक्रः देवः पुरोगमः येषाम्' — 'those whose leader is Indra' (qualifying the same objects)

• भवता: by you (sir)
• भवता: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/आदरार्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; honorific 'by you'

• कथितान्: described
• कथितान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथित (कृदन्त; √कथ् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त — 'told/described' (agreeing with objects)

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; demonstrative pronoun — 'these'

• 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'

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; 'I'

• गुरो: O teacher
• गुरो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; vocative — 'O teacher'

Speaker

Maitreya

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Requests details of the Manvantara-lords (Manus) and the godly assemblies headed by Śakra (Indra) for each cycle.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: devoted, precise

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Each Manvantara has structured governance: a Manu presides, and a specific Indra-led deva assembly administers cosmic functions.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Recognize governance and responsibility as sacred: leadership should mirror cosmic order—protecting beings and upholding dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic offices (Manu/Indra) are real functional distinctions within the Lord’s one ordered body (jagat), reflecting dependent plurality.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Sage Parāśara
• Śakra (Indra)
• Devas
• Manvantara rulers (Manvantarādhipas)

FAQs

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

This verse highlights that each Manvantara has its own presiding rulers and a distinct divine administration, showing cosmic order unfolding in regulated cycles.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the roles of Indra and the Devas across time?

Maitreya’s request sets up Parāśara’s explanation that the Devas—often led by Śakra (Indra)—change from one Manvantara to another as part of an ordered cosmic succession.

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

Even when the verse names Indra and Manvantara rulers, the Purāṇic framework treats these offices as functions within Vishnu’s overarching sovereignty that maintains universal order.