Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 7
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
मनोजवश्चाक्षुषे ऽथ इन्द्रः स्वात्यादयः सुराः सुमेधाद्या महर्षयः पुरुप्रभृतयः सुताः
manojavaścākṣuṣe 'tha indraḥ svātyādayaḥ surāḥ sumedhādyā maharṣayaḥ puruprabhṛtayaḥ sutāḥ
В манвантаре Чакшуша (Cākṣuṣa) Индрой был Маноджава; Свати и прочие были богами; Сумедха и прочие — великими риши; а Пуру и остальные — сыновьями (потомством).
Lord Agni (narrating the Purāṇic account to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Use as a manvantara-reference table for mapping Indra, Deva-gaṇa, Saptarṣi-group, and royal progeny within Cākṣuṣa Manvantara in Purāṇic chronology and teaching.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Cākṣuṣa-manvantara: Indra–Deva–Ṛṣi–Putra listing","lookup_keywords":["Cākṣuṣa Manvantara","Manojava Indra","Svāti gods","Sumedhā maharshi","Puru progeny"],"quick_summary":"Identifies the key offices and lineages for the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara: the Indra (Manojava), the deva-group (Svāti etc.), the maharṣis (Sumedhā etc.), and the progeny line (Puru etc.)."}
Concept: Ṛta-like cosmic administration: recurring epochs (manvantaras) have structured roles—Indra, devas, ṛṣis, and human lineages.
Application: Helps interpret Purāṇic narratives by placing characters within the correct epoch and office, avoiding anachronistic readings.
Khanda Section: Manvantara Genealogies (Vaivasvata/Manvantaric Cosmology and Lineages)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic register-like scene: Indra Manojava enthroned in Svarga, surrounded by the deva-group led by Svāti; nearby, Sumedhā and other maharṣis seated in tapas; below, Puru and other progeny in royal attire, indicating human lineage.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, Indra Manojava on a jeweled throne in Svarga, devas labeled Svāti etc. in orderly rows, maharṣis with matted hair and kamandalu seated in a forest hermitage, lower register showing Puru and princes, traditional ornamental borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Indra Manojava with gold-leaf halo and ornate throne, devas as attendants, maharṣis in a side panel with subtle gold highlights, bottom panel with royal progeny; rich reds and greens, heavy jewelry detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, clean linework and soft shading, diagrammatic composition with four groups (Indra, devas, ṛṣis, sons) separated by architectural/landscape bands, inscriptions for names, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly Svarga scene with Indra Manojava, finely detailed textiles, devas in assembly, sages in a garden pavilion, princes below; delicate palette, precise facial features, calligraphic labels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Sarang","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाक्षुषे = च + आक्षुषे; ऽथ = अथ; स्वात्यादयः = स्वाति-आदयः; सुमेधाद्या = सुमेधा-आद्याः; पुरुप्रभृतयः = पुरु-प्रभृतयः
Related Themes: Agni Purana Manvantara-nirūpaṇa sections around adhyāya 150; Agni Purana sarga/manvantara catalogues in adjacent verses (150.6–150.12)
FAQs
It transmits Purāṇic cosmological “catalog knowledge”: the official roster for the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara—its Indra, principal devas, chief ṛṣis, and notable progeny—used for mapping time-cycles and lineages rather than prescribing a ritual.
By preserving structured reference-lists (Indra–deva–ṛṣi–progeny) for a specific Manvantara, it functions like a cosmological index—one of the Agni Purāṇa’s hallmark “encyclopedia” features alongside its sections on rites, polity, medicine, and arts.
Remembering and reciting Manvantara lineages is traditionally treated as purifying śravaṇa/smaraṇa (hearing and recollection of sacred history), reinforcing dharmic orientation by situating human life within cosmic cycles and revered ancestral-seer lineages.