Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 11

Manvantara Administration: Appointment of Manus, Indras, and the Restoration of Dharma

Devanagari script

एतत् कल्पविकल्पस्य प्रमाणं परिकीर्तितम् । यत्र मन्वन्तराण्याहुश्चतुर्दश पुराविद: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

etat kalpa-vikalpasya pramāṇaṁ parikīrtitam yatra manvantarāṇy āhuś caturdaśa purāvidaḥ

Translation

大王啊，在一劫——即梵天的一日——之中，会发生许多称为“毗迦尔帕”(vikalpa)的变迁；其依据我已先前说明。通晓往昔的圣贤断定：梵天一日之内共有十四个摩奴期（manvantara）。

Synonyms

• एतत्: this (statement/thing)
• एतत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun used substantively

• कल्प-विकल्पस्य: of (the) kalpa and vikalpa
• कल्प-विकल्पस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + विकल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case/genitive), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (itaretara-dvandva) in genitive: 'of kalpa and vikalpa'

• प्रमाणम्: proof; authoritative measure
• प्रमाणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), एकवचन

• परिकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; passive sense: 'has been proclaimed'

• यत्र: wherein/where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; relative adverb (स्थानवाचक)

• मन्वन्तराणि: Manvantaras (periods of Manus)
• मन्वन्तराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), बहुवचन

• आहुः: they say
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; parasmaipada

• चतुर्दश: fourteen
• चतुर्दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (चतुर्+दश); संख्या-विशेषण; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; agrees in sense with plural noun 'मन्वन्तराणि'

• पुराविदः: the knowers of ancient lore
• पुराविदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case/nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: 'पुरा-विद्' = 'knower of ancient lore'

Purport

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Fourteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The System of Universal Management.”

FAQs

How many manvantaras are there in one kalpa according to Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse states that the Purāṇa-knowers declare fourteen manvantaras within a single kalpa.

Who is explaining the kalpa and manvantara system in Canto 8 Chapter 14?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is speaking, continuing his systematic explanation of universal time to King Parīkṣit.

How can the teaching of kalpa and manvantara help a devotee in modern life?

It broadens one’s perspective beyond short-term anxieties, encouraging steady bhakti by remembering that time moves in vast cycles under the Lord’s order.