Shloka 21
भविष्य-मन्वन्तराः (अष्टम-चतुर्दश) तथा कल्प-युग-व्यवस्था
पारा मरीचिगर्भाश् च सुधर्माणस् तथा त्रिधा भविष्यन्ति तदा देवा एकैको द्वादशो गणः
pārā marīcigarbhāś ca sudharmāṇas tathā tridhā bhaviṣyanti tadā devā ekaiko dvādaśo gaṇaḥ
Then, in that Manvantara, the Devas will arise in distinct companies—the Pārās, the Marīcigarbhas, and likewise the Sudharmāṇas—threefold in division, each company a gaṇa of twelve.
Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Constituents of the ninth Manvantara: deva-gaṇas and their divisions
Teaching: Cosmological
Quality: authoritative
Creation Stage: Manvantara
Manvantara: Daksha-savarni (9th)
Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas
Concept: The Manvantara is marked by orderly divine administrations, with devas arranged into specific gaṇas, reflecting a lawful cosmos rather than randomness.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: See social and inner life as benefiting from sattvic organization—disciplined grouping of duties and virtues.
Vishishtadvaita: Cosmic plurality (many deva-gaṇas) functions as the Lord’s body (śarīra) under one sovereign order, harmonizing unity and diversity.
FAQs
This verse shows that in each Manvantara the divine administration is organized into defined groups (gaṇas), indicating an orderly cosmic governance that renews cyclically.
Parāśara specifies the named classes of Devas and even their numerical formation—each gaṇa consisting of twelve—presenting Manvantara change as a regulated succession rather than a random event.
Although Vishnu is not named in the line, the Manvantara order described is traditionally understood as operating under Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty, with divine hosts arising according to the cosmic law sustained by him.