Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 1
Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari
Gajendra Prelude
श्रीराजोवाच स्वायम्भुवस्येह गुरो वंशोऽयं विस्तराच्छ्रुत: । यत्र विश्वसृजां सर्गो मनूनन्यान्वदस्व न: ॥ १ ॥
śrī-rājovāca svāyambhuvasyeha guro vaṁśo ’yaṁ vistarāc chrutaḥ yatra viśva-sṛjāṁ sargo manūn anyān vadasva naḥ
ព្រះបាទបរិក្ខិតមានព្រះបន្ទូលថា៖ ឱព្រះអម្ចាស់ ឱគ្រូវិញ្ញាណរបស់ខ្ញុំ! ខ្ញុំបានស្តាប់ដោយលម្អិតអំពីវង្សស្វាយម្ភូវមនុរួចហើយ។ ប៉ុន្តែមានមនុផ្សេងទៀត; សូមព្រះគ្រូមេត្តាពណ៌នាវង្សរបស់ពួកគេដល់យើង។
FAQs
King Parīkṣit is speaking, requesting his guru (Śukadeva Gosvāmī) to describe the other Manus after hearing the dynasty of Svāyambhuva Manu.
Manus are divinely appointed administrators of humanity and cosmic order; each period of their rule is called a Manvantara, during which creation and governance proceed under specific arrangements.
It models sincere inquiry: after learning one portion of sacred history, a devotee humbly asks for the broader picture to deepen understanding of dharma and God’s governance of the universe.