Shloka 44

मन्वन्तर-क्रमः (अतीत-सप्तमन्वन्तराः) तथा मन्वन्तरावताराः

Devanagari script

इत्य् एतास् तनवस् तस्य सप्त मन्वन्तरेषु वै सप्तस्व् एवाभवन् विप्र याभिः संरक्षिताः प्रजाः

Transliteration

ity etās tanavas tasya sapta manvantareṣu vai saptasv evābhavan vipra yābhiḥ saṃrakṣitāḥ prajāḥ

Translation

Demikianlah, wahai brāhmaṇa, inilah tujuh perwujudan-Nya; dalam tujuh Manvantara—setiap satu pada tiap-tiapnya—melalui-Nya makhluk-makhluk dipelihara dan ditertibkan.

Word by Word

इतिthus

एताःthese

तनवःforms/bodies

तस्यof him/of that (one)

सप्तseven

मन्वन्तरेषुin (the) Manvantaras

वैindeed

सप्तसुin the seven

एवonly/just

अभवन्were/occurred

विप्रO brāhmaṇa

याभिःby which (forms)

संरक्षिताःwere protected

प्रजाःcreatures/subjects

Speaker

Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: A synopsis of Viṣṇu’s Manvantara manifestations and their protective function.

Teaching: Cosmological

Quality: authoritative

Cosmological Context

Creation Stage: Manvantara

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Across cyclic time, Viṣṇu’s manifold forms function as the sustaining principle that preserves beings and re-stabilizes order in each Manvantara.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Adopt a long view of time: setbacks are phases within larger cycles where order can be restored through alignment with dharma.

Vishishtadvaita: The one Lord expresses multiple modes (tanū/avatāra) for the sake of the world, indicating unity-in-diversity central to qualified non-dualism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

Vishnu

Prajā (created beings)

FAQs

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

This verse frames Manvantaras as ordered epochs of cosmic administration, each sustained by a specific divine manifestation through which beings (prajā) are preserved.

How does Sage Parāśara explain Vishnu’s role across different epochs?

Parāśara presents Vishnu’s “tanavaḥ” (manifest forms) as recurring, epoch-specific modes of protection—appearing in each Manvantara to uphold continuity and order.

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

Vishnu is shown as the Supreme sustaining reality whose purposeful manifestations ensure preservation, emphasizing divine sovereignty over time-cycles and the welfare of all beings.