Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे युद्धजयार्णवे अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमो नामोनपञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ पञ्चाशदधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः मन्वन्तराणि अग्निर् उवाच मन्वन्तराणि वक्ष्यामि आद्याः स्वायम्भुवो मनुः अग्नीध्राद्यास्तस्य सुता यमो नाम तदा सुराः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe yuddhajayārṇave ayutalakṣakoṭihomo nāmonapañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha pañcāśadadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ manvantarāṇi agnir uvāca manvantarāṇi vakṣyāmi ādyāḥ svāyambhuvo manuḥ agnīdhrādyāstasya sutā yamo nāma tadā surāḥ
ଏହିପରି ଆଗ୍ନେୟ ମହାପୁରାଣର ‘ଯୁଦ୍ଧଜୟାର୍ଣବ’ ଖଣ୍ଡରେ ‘ଅୟୁତ-ଲକ୍ଷ-କୋଟିହୋମ’ ନାମକ ଏକଶ ଊନପଞ୍ଚାଶତମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ସମାପ୍ତ ହେଲା। ଏବେ ଏକଶ ପଞ୍ଚାଶତମ ‘ମନ୍ୱନ୍ତର’ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ଆରମ୍ଭ। ଅଗ୍ନି କହିଲେ—ମୁଁ ମନ୍ୱନ୍ତରମାନଙ୍କ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣନା କରିବି। ପ୍ରଥମ ସ୍ୱାୟମ୍ଭୁବ ମନୁ; ତାଙ୍କ ପୁତ୍ର ଅଗ୍ନୀଧ୍ର ଆଦି, ଏବଂ ସେ ସମୟରେ ଦେବମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ‘ଯମ’ ନାମ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ଥିଲା।
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Orienting readers in Purāṇic timekeeping: identifying the start of the Manvantara section, naming Svāyambhuva Manu and key figures of that epoch for chronological mapping and genealogical study.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Transition to Manvantara Chronology: Svāyambhuva Manu and His Epoch","lookup_keywords":["Manvantara","Svayambhuva Manu","Agnidhra","Yama","Agni Purana chapter 150"],"quick_summary":"The text closes the homa-quantification chapter and begins the Manvantara account, stating Svāyambhuva as the first Manu and noting his lineage and the divine administration of that period."}
Concept: Cosmic governance through cyclic time: Manvantaras structure dharma, rulership, and divine administration across epochs.
Application: Use Manvantara lists to contextualize genealogies, avatara timings, and dharma shifts; supports ritual calendars and Purāṇic historiography.
Khanda Section: Cosmology & Manvantara-chronology (Puranic Time Cycles)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A narrative colophon scene transitioning to cosmology: Agni as teacher begins recounting Manvantaras; a cosmic timeline scroll shows Svāyambhuva Manu, his sons (Agnīdhra etc.), and Yama among the gods.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Agni-deva seated as luminous teacher in a mandapa, gesturing to a stylized cosmic wheel of time with panels for Manvantaras, Svāyambhuva Manu depicted royally, earthy pigments, sacred diagram aesthetics.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Agni with golden aura presenting a manuscript titled 'Manvantara', Svāyambhuva Manu enthroned in a side vignette, rich ornamentation and gold work emphasizing cosmic authority.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional cosmology tableau: a clear timeline/mandala of Manvantaras with labeled first Manu, delicate lines, readable structure, calm scholarly setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, learned assembly with Agni as a radiant sage-like figure narrating, scribes recording, a painted scroll showing genealogical tree of Svāyambhuva Manu and Agnīdhra, refined detail and balanced composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity = iti; agnir uvāca = agniḥ uvāca; koṭihomo etc. resolved as koṭi-homaḥ; 'dhyāyaḥ = adhyāyaḥ. Chapter-number compounds are treated as title-ordinals; exact numeric parsing may vary by recension.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 150 (Manvantara enumeration continuing); Agni Purana 149 (closure colophon of homa chapter)
FAQs
It introduces Manvantara-vidyā—Puranic chronology that organizes cosmic history into periods ruled by successive Manus, along with their associated lineages and divine administrations.
By shifting from a prior ritual topic (homa classifications) to cosmological timekeeping (Manvantaras), it demonstrates the Agni Purana’s multi-disciplinary scope—ritual science alongside historical-cosmological cataloging.
Knowing the Manvantara framework situates human duty (dharma) within sacred cosmic time, fostering reverence for divine order and encouraging actions aligned with the era’s dharmic standards.