Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 22
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
देवा यज्ञभुजस्ते तु भूः पुत्रैः परिपाल्यते ब्रह्मणो दिवसे ब्रह्मन्मनवस्तु चतुर्दश
devā yajñabhujaste tu bhūḥ putraiḥ paripālyate brahmaṇo divase brahmanmanavastu caturdaśa
దేవులు యజ్ఞభోక్తులు; వారి పుత్రులు భూమిని పరిరక్షిస్తారు. ఓ బ్రాహ్మణా, బ్రహ్మదేవుని ఒక దినంలో నిజంగా పద్నాలుగు మనువులు ఉంటారు.
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Use as a cosmological framework for Purana-based chronology (kalpa/manvantara) and for situating ritual merit (yajña) within divine governance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Chaturdaśa-Manu in a Brahmā-day","lookup_keywords":["Brahmā-divasa","Manvantara","Chaturdaśa Manu","Deva-yajñabhuj","Sṛṣṭi-pralaya"],"quick_summary":"Defines the standard Purāṇic time-unit that a single day of Brahmā contains fourteen Manvantaras. It also states the yajña-economy: devas partake of sacrifice and their progeny protect the earth."}
Concept: Cosmic governance through yajña and cyclic time (kalpa/manvantara) as the organizing principle of worldly order.
Application: For Purāṇic study, calendrical narration, and framing dharma/ritual within a larger cosmological timescale.
Khanda Section: Cosmology & Manvantara-Kalpa (Srishti-pralaya, Yuga chronology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic tableau of Brahmā’s day: fourteen Manu-epochs arranged like panels, devas receiving oblations from a central yajña-fire, and the earth guarded by divine sons/kings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat vibrant colors, Brahmā seated on lotus with a circular mandala showing 14 Manvantaras, devas around a blazing yajña-kunda receiving havis, earth-goddess Bhū at the base, ornate borders, traditional icon proportions.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold leaf highlights, central yajña altar with devas as recipients, Brahmā above in aureole, fourteen small medallions for Manus, rich red/green palette, embossed ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional diagram feel: labeled ring of 14 Manus within Brahmā-day, small vignettes of yajña and earth-protection, muted pastel tones, fine shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly composition: a sage addressing ‘Brahman’ interlocutor, behind them a cosmological chart of 14 Manus, devas at a fire-ritual, fine architectural framing, intricate textiles and margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यज्ञभुजस् + ते → यज्ञभुजस्ते; ब्रह्मन् + मनवः → ब्रह्मन्मनवः; मनवः + तु → मनवस्तु; देवाः (visarga) retained in analysis.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: sṛṣṭi-pralaya and kalpa-manvantara sections (cosmology khanda); Agni Purana: yuga-dharma/time-reckoning passages
FAQs
It states the ritual principle that devas are ‘yajñabhuj’—the designated recipients of sacrificial offerings—and gives a technical cosmological count: 14 Manus occur within one day of Brahmā.
Alongside ritual theology (who receives yajña offerings), it supplies puranic time-keeping (kalpa/manvantara structure), showing how the text integrates liturgy with cosmological chronology and governance theory.
It reinforces that yajña properly directed to the devas sustains cosmic order, while the manvantara framework situates human duty and kingship within a divinely regulated cycle of protection of the earth.