Shloka 15
Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa
Daśa-lakṣaṇam
मन्वन्तरं मनुर्देवा मनुपुत्रा: सुरेश्वरा: । ऋषयोऽशांवताराश्च हरे: षड्विधमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥
manvantaraṁ manur devā manu-putrāḥ sureśvarāḥ ṛṣayo ’ṁśāvatārāś ca hareḥ ṣaḍ-vidham ucyate
દરેક મન્વંતરમાં હરિ ભગવાનના પ્રાકટ્યના છ પ્રકાર કહેવાય છે—શાસક મનુ, દેવગણ, મનુના પુત્રો, ઇન્દ્ર (સુરેશ્વર), મહર્ષિઓ અને પરમ પુરુષના અંશાવતાર।
FAQs
This verse states that a manvantara is identified by six components: Manu, the chief demigods, Manu’s sons, the heavenly rulers, the sages, and the partial incarnations of Lord Hari active in that period.
Śukadeva is outlining how cosmic time is organized under the Lord’s governance, showing that each era is marked by specific leaders and by Hari’s aṁśāvatāras who sustain dharma and order.
It encourages seeing history and change as guided by divine order—leadership, wisdom, and spiritual protection work together—so one can cultivate faith, follow dharma, and seek shelter of Hari amid worldly shifts.