Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 4
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
सुशान्तिरिन्द्रो देवाश् च सुधामाद्या वशिष्ठजाः सप्तर्षयो ऽजाद्याः पुत्राश् चतुर्थस्तामसी मनुः
suśāntirindro devāś ca sudhāmādyā vaśiṣṭhajāḥ saptarṣayo 'jādyāḥ putrāś caturthastāmasī manuḥ
Suśānti adalah Indra; para dewa ialah Sudhāmā dan yang lainnya; Tujuh Ṛṣi adalah putra-putra Vasiṣṭha; putra-putra Manu bermula dari Aja; dan Manu keempat ialah Tāmasa Manu.
Lord Agni (narrating puranic cosmology to a sage, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Manvantara identification: ties Indra-name, deva-group, Saptarṣi lineage (Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ), and Manu-name (Tāmasa) for chronological cross-checking across puranic narratives.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Tāmasa-manvantara: Suśānti Indra, Sudhāmā deva-group, Vasiṣṭha’s sons as Saptarṣis, Aja-line sons","lookup_keywords":["Tāmasa Manu","Suśānti","Sudhāmā","Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ Saptarṣi","Aja"],"quick_summary":"Defines the Tāmasa-manvantara roster: Indra Suśānti, gods beginning with Sudhāmā, Saptarṣis born of Vasiṣṭha, and Manu’s sons beginning with Aja."}
Concept: Authority transmission through rishi-lineage within cyclical time (manvantara).
Application: Use Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ marker to reconcile variant Saptarṣi lists across texts and commentarial traditions.
Khanda Section: Manvantara and Sarga Genealogies (Cosmic Chronology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Tāmasa-manvantara assembly: Indra Suśānti enthroned; Sudhāmā-led gods gathered; seven sages depicted as Vasiṣṭha’s sons; Manu Tāmasa with sons beginning with Aja shown as a lineage group.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Indra Suśānti with vajra and crown, deva-gaṇa led by Sudhāmā in clustered formation, Vasiṣṭha with seven sons as rishis, Manu Tāmasa with Aja and other sons, strong outlines and earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-backed celestial court, Suśānti central, Sudhāmā and gods in ornate attire, Vasiṣṭha and seven rishis with halos, Manu Tāmasa with sons, heavy gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, balanced didactic grouping with labels: Suśānti, Sudhāmā, Vasiṣṭha-jāḥ Saptarṣi, Aja-line sons; soft colors, precise linework, minimal background","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, manuscript scene with multiple registers: Indra on pavilion, gods in attendance, Vasiṣṭha with seven ascetics, Manu with sons, intricate textiles and borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: suśāntirindro = suśāntiḥ indraḥ; devāś = devāḥ; saptarṣayo 'jādyāḥ = saptarṣayaḥ ajādyāḥ; putrāś = putrāḥ; caturthastāmasī = caturthaḥ tāmasī.
Related Themes: Agni Purana manvantara-krama passages listing Tāmasa and adjacent manvantaras
FAQs
This verse imparts Purāṇic cosmological enumeration (Manvantara-vidyā): identifying the presiding Indra, the class of gods, the Saptarṣis, and the progeny associated with the fourth Manvantara under Tāmasa Manu.
By cataloging Manvantara-specific officials (Indra), divine groups, and rishi lineages, it functions like a reference index for Purāṇic chronology—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark encyclopedic domains alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts.
Remembering and reciting Manvantara lineages is traditionally treated as smṛti-based puṇya: it stabilizes dharmic worldview by situating beings within cosmic time-cycles and honors ṛṣis and devas as transmitters of order (ṛta/dharma).