Shloka 4

भविष्य-मन्वन्तराः (अष्टम-चतुर्दश) तथा कल्प-युग-व्यवस्था

Devanagari script

संज्ञेयम् इत्य् अथार्कश् च छायायाम् आत्मजत्रयम् शनैश्चरं मनुं चान्यं तपतीं चाप्य् अजीजनत्

Transliteration

saṃjñeyam ity athārkaś ca chāyāyām ātmajatrayam śanaiścaraṃ manuṃ cānyaṃ tapatīṃ cāpy ajījanat

Translation

Then Arka, the Sun-god, begot through Chhāyā three children: Śanaiścara, another Manu, and also Tapatī. Thus the appointed lineage continued, moving in harmony with the ṛta-dharma upheld by Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• संज्ञेयम्: (she is) to be called Saṃjñā
• संज्ञेयम्: Kriya-visheshana (Predicate qualifier/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + इय (तद्धित)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; विधेयविशेषण (predicate adjective: 'to be called')

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/thereupon)

• अर्कः: the Sun (Arka)
• अर्कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (सूर्यपर्याय)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• छायायाम्: in/through Chāyā
• छायायाम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• आत्मजत्रयम्: a triad of children
• आत्मजत्रयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक) + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगुसमास (three offspring)

• शनैश्चरम्: Śanaiścara (Saturn)
• शनैश्चरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शनैश्चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मनुम्: Manu
• मनुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तपतीम्: Tapatī
• तपतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपेक्षार्थक अव्यय (also)

• अजीजनत्: begot, produced
• अजीजनत्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense in usage (जनयामास = begot)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Continuation of solar progeny through Chāyā and the emergence of additional Manu-figures and planetary deities

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even complex and branching lineages (including planetary powers like Śanaiścara and Manu-successions) unfold as part of a larger ordained cosmic order.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Interpret delays, constraints, and ‘Saturnine’ trials as occasions for steady dharma and patience rather than fatalism.

Vishishtadvaita: Kāla and planetary regulators are real instruments within the Lord’s administration, not independent absolutes; order serves the soul’s maturation toward God.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Dharma Exemplar: Śanaiścara—kāla/niyati (discipline through time and consequence)

Key Kings: Sūrya (Arka), Chāyā, Śanaiścara, Manu, Tapatī

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari (name)

Characters & Entities

• Arka (Surya)
• Chaya
• Shanaiścara (Saturn)
• Manu
• Tapati
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of Śanaiścara’s birth in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse places Śanaiścara (Saturn) within the Solar family line through Chāyā, linking planetary order (graha) to sacred genealogy and the regulated flow of time under Viṣṇu’s governance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the appearance of different Manus?

Parāśara narrates Manus as successive progenitors within cosmic cycles; here he notes an ‘other Manu’ born from Chāyā, reflecting the Purāṇic pattern that Manvantara leadership arises through divinely ordered lineages.

What is the theological importance of Lord Viṣṇu in this genealogical context?

Even when the verse names solar descendants, the Purāṇic frame treats these births as part of Viṣṇu’s sustaining power—lineage, time, and dharma unfold as expressions of the Supreme Reality’s ordered sovereignty.