Shloka 17

The Future Manus and the Avatāras in Their Manvantaras

Devanagari script

देवगुह्यात्सरस्वत्यां सार्वभौम इति प्रभु: । स्थानं पुरन्दराद्‌धृत्वा बलये दास्यतीश्वर: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

devaguhyāt sarasvatyāṁ sārvabhauma iti prabhuḥ sthānaṁ purandarād dhṛtvā balaye dāsyatīśvaraḥ

Translation

അഷ്ടമ മന്വന്തരത്തിൽ മഹാബലനായ ഭഗവാൻ സാർവഭൗമൻ ദേവഗുഹ്യന്റെ പുത്രനായി സരസ്വതിയുടെ ഗർഭത്തിൽ അവതരിക്കും. അവൻ പുരന്ദരൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) നിന്നു രാജ്യം പിടിച്ചെടുത്തു ബലി മഹാരാജാവിന് നൽകും.

Synonyms

• देवगुह्यात्: from Devaguhya
• देवगुह्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवगुह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान/ablative), एकवचन; समासः—देवानां गुह्यः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• सरस्वत्याम्: in (the river) Sarasvatī
• सरस्वत्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/locative), एकवचन

• सार्वभौमः: (named) Sārvabhauma
• सार्वभौमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार्वभौम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/nominative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/नामनिर्देशार्थक particle (“thus/so called”)

• प्रभुः: the lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य-सम्बन्धे ‘सार्वभौमः’ इत्यस्य

• स्थानम्: the position/office
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/accusative), एकवचन

• पुरन्दरात्: from Purandara (Indra)
• पुरन्दरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• धृत्वा: having taken (assumed)
• धृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘having taken/assuming’

• बलये: to Bali
• बलये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/dative), एकवचन

• दास्यति: will give
• दास्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (simple future), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृपदं ‘दास्यति’ इत्यस्य

Characters & Entities

• Devaguhya
• Sarasvatī
• Sārvabhauma
• Purandara (Indra)
• Bali

FAQs

Who is Sārvabhauma in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In Canto 8 Chapter 13, Sārvabhauma is named as an appearance of the Supreme Lord who will take the post of Indra from Purandara and give it to Bali.

Why does the Bhagavatam say Bali Maharaja will receive Indra’s position?

This verse highlights the Lord’s sovereignty and His special favor toward Bali—showing that worldly posts ultimately belong to the Lord, who can reassign them according to His divine plan and the devotee’s destiny.

What practical lesson does this shloka teach for modern life?

Positions, power, and recognition are temporary and ultimately governed by the Supreme; the lasting goal is devotion and integrity, as divine grace can elevate or remove status beyond human control.