Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 21
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
चतुर्दशस्य भौत्यस्य पुत्रा ऊरुमुखा मनोः प्रयर्तयन्ति देवांश् च भुवि सप्तर्षयो दिवः
caturdaśasya bhautyasya putrā ūrumukhā manoḥ prayartayanti devāṃś ca bhuvi saptarṣayo divaḥ
పద్నాలుగవ భౌత్య మన్వంతరంలో మనువు యొక్క ఊరుముఖ మొదలైన కుమారులు భూమిపై దేవకార్యాలను ప్రవర్తింపజేస్తారు; భూమిపై సప్తర్షులు ఉంటారు, స్వర్గంలో దేవగణము స్థితి చెందుతుంది।
Lord Agni (narrating Puranic chronology to the sage listener, traditionally Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Explains functional establishment in the 14th Manvantara: Manu’s sons (Ūrūmukha-ādi) ‘set in motion’ the gods’ roles; useful for interpreting Purāṇic governance as institutional dharma across realms (earth/heaven).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Bhautya-Manvantara administration: Manu’s sons establishing deva-functions","lookup_keywords":["Ūrūmukha","Bhautya sons","devān pravartayanti","Saptarṣi on earth","heaven and earth order"],"quick_summary":"Interprets the Manvantara not only as a list of names but as a functioning system: Manu’s progeny initiate/maintain the deva offices, while Saptarṣis operate on earth and devas in heaven."}
Concept: Lokasaṅgraha through role-allocation: different orders (Manu’s line, Saptarṣis, devas) sustain the cosmos by performing distinct duties.
Application: Model for social-spiritual organization: assign responsibilities by competence and station; maintain continuity of institutions to preserve order.
Khanda Section: Manvantara & Puranic Genealogies (Vamsha/Manu-Charita)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Cosmic realms
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A split-realm composition: on earth, the Seven Sages seated in a forest āśrama; above, the devas in heaven; in the center, Manu’s sons led by Ūrūmukha performing a ‘commissioning’ gesture that sets divine functions into operation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, horizontal register art: lower band forest hermitage with seven rishis, upper band celestial court with devas, central band showing Ūrūmukha-ādi princes performing ritual/administrative act, bold colors and stylized clouds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, tripartite layout with gold borders: earth-āśrama panel, central commissioning panel with Manu’s sons, upper svarga panel with devas and gold halos, ornate arch framing the whole","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear narrative separation of realms, delicate linework for sages and princes, subtle cloud separators, emphasis on the ‘pravartana’ action gesture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, two-level architectural composition: garden hermitage below, palace-like celestial pavilion above, central group of princes issuing decrees/ritual tokens, fine detailing and calligraphic captions"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवांश् च = देवान् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 150.20 (Bhautya/Śuci identification)
FAQs
This verse imparts Manvantara-vidyā—Puranic time-keeping and cosmic administration—identifying how each Manvantara is characterized by its Manu, his progeny, the Devas, and the Saptarṣis.
By cataloging the components of a Manvantara (Manu, sons, Devas, Saptarṣis, and their spheres), it functions as a concise entry in the Agni Purana’s broader encyclopedic mapping of cosmology, chronology, and sacred history.
Remembering and reciting Manvantara lineages is treated in Purāṇic tradition as smṛti of cosmic order (ṛta/dharma), supporting faith in dharma’s continuity across ages and generating merit through remembrance of sages and divine governance.