Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

चतुर्दशभिर् एतैस् तु गतैर् मन्वन्तरैर् द्विज सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तः कल्पो निःशेष उच्यते

Transliteration

caturdaśabhir etais tu gatair manvantarair dvija sahasrayugaparyantaḥ kalpo niḥśeṣa ucyate

Translation

O twice-born, when these fourteen Manvantara periods have passed, then—up to the full measure of a thousand Yuga-cycles—the Kalpa is said to be complete in its entirety.

Word by Word

• चतुर्दशभिः: by fourteen
• चतुर्दशभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (प्रातिपदिक; चतुर् + दश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/अन्वयार्थक

• गतैः: having passed/elapsed
• गतैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + गत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• मन्वन्तरैः: by (the) manvantaras
• मन्वन्तरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक; मनु + अन्तर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• द्विज: O twice-born (brahmin)
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तः: ending with a thousand yugas
• सहस्रयुगपर्यन्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + युग + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कल्पस्य)

• कल्पः: the kalpa (aeon)
• कल्पः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• निःशेषः: entire/complete
• निःशेषः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निःशेष (प्रातिपदिक; निः + शेष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कल्पस्य)

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Measure and structure of a kalpa in terms of manvantaras and yuga-cycles

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Kalpa

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A kalpa is defined as the complete span comprising fourteen manvantara-periods extending to a thousand yuga-cycles.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Contemplate time as cyclical and vast to cultivate detachment from short-term anxieties.

Vishishtadvaita: The cosmos is an ordered, intelligible system sustained by the Lord’s governance rather than random flux.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Characters & Entities

• Manvantaras
• Yuga cycles
• Dvija (Maitreya)

FAQs

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

This verse states that a complete Kalpa is understood through the passage of fourteen Manvantaras, presenting cosmic time as a structured, repeating order rather than a random flow.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the concept of a Kalpa here?

Parāśara defines the Kalpa as extending to a thousand Yuga-cycles and being complete when the fourteen Manvantara epochs have run their course.

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

By framing time as a lawful cosmic cycle, the Purana implies a sustaining supreme order—classically attributed to Vishnu as the sovereign ground of creation, preservation, and periodic renewal.