Shloka 6

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

स्वायंभुवो मनुः पूर्वं मनुः स्वारोचिषस् तथा उत्तमस् तामसश् चैव रैवतश् चाक्षुषस् तथा

Transliteration

svāyaṃbhuvo manuḥ pūrvaṃ manuḥ svārociṣas tathā uttamas tāmasaś caiva raivataś cākṣuṣas tathā

Translation

First is Svāyambhuva Manu; then Svārociṣa Manu; likewise Uttama and Tāmasa; and also Raivata and Cākṣuṣa—thus these Manus are remembered in their proper order, marking the successive cycles of cosmic governance by the ordinance of the Supreme Lord (Viṣṇu).

Word by Word

• स्वायंभुवः: Svāyambhuva (Manu)
• स्वायंभुवः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वायंभुव (प्रातिपदिक; स्वयम् + भुव < √भू)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; मनोर्नाम (proper name)

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• पूर्वम्: formerly/first
• पूर्वम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• स्वारोचिषः: Svārociṣa (Manu)
• स्वारोचिषः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वारोचिष (प्रातिपदिक; स्वरुचि/स्वारोचिष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मनोर्नाम

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Discourse connective (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (also/likewise)

• उत्तमः: Uttama (Manu)
• उत्तमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मनोर्नाम

• तामसः: Tāmasa (Manu)
• तामसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मनोर्नाम

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Emphasis (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/indeed)

• रैवतः: Raivata (Manu)
• रैवतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मनोर्नाम

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

• आक्षुषः: Cākṣuṣa (Manu)
• आक्षुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आक्षुष (प्रातिपदिक; अक्षु/चक्षुस्-सम्बन्ध)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मनोर्नाम

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Discourse connective (सम्बन्धसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic governance proceeds through successive Manvantaras, each presided over by a distinct Manu in ordained order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Cultivate a long-view of time and duty: align personal dharma with orderly rhythms rather than impulsive reaction.

Vishishtadvaita: The cosmos is administered under the Supreme Lord’s niyati (ordinance), implying a real, structured world dependent on Vishnu.

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhuva Manu
• Svaroçiṣa Manu
• Uttama Manu
• Tāmasa Manu
• Raivata Manu
• Cākṣuṣa Manu

FAQs

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

This verse begins a structured enumeration of Manus, indicating that cosmic time is divided into successive Manvantaras, each governed by a Manu as part of the ordered administration of the universe.

How does Sage Parāśara explain cosmic order through the Manus?

By listing Manus in sequence, Parāśara frames history as a regulated progression of epochs, where each Manu presides over a defined cycle of dharma and progeny, setting the stage for later genealogies.

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

Even when Vishnu is not named in the verse, the ordered succession of Manus implies a universe governed by a supreme, sustaining principle—Vishnu as the overarching source and regulator of cosmic law and continuity.