Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 15

Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa

Daśa-lakṣaṇam

Devanagari script

मन्वन्तरं मनुर्देवा मनुपुत्रा: सुरेश्वरा: । ऋषयोऽशांवताराश्च हरे: षड्‌विधमुच्यते ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

manvantaraṁ manur devā manu-putrāḥ sureśvarāḥ ṛṣayo ’ṁśāvatārāś ca hareḥ ṣaḍ-vidham ucyate

Translation

在每一位摩奴的统治期（manvantara）中，据说有六类人物作为哈利之显现而出现：执政的摩奴、主要诸天、摩奴之子、因陀罗、伟大圣仙，以及至上人格神的分身（aṁśa-avatāra）。

Synonyms

• manvantaram: Manvantara (a Manu-period)
• manvantaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manvantara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nominative/Accusative singular; here as topic enumerand

• manuḥ: Manu
• manuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative singular

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural

• manu-putrāḥ: sons of Manu
• manu-putrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manu (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural

• sureśvarāḥ: lords of the gods (Indras)
• sureśvarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural; ‘देवानाम् ईश्वराः’ (lords among gods)

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural

• aṁśa-avatārāḥ: partial incarnations
• aṁśa-avatārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṁśa (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative plural; ‘अंश एव अवतारः’ (partial incarnations)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive singular

• ṣaḍ-vidham: sixfold
• ṣaḍ-vidham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + vidha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc singular; द्विगुसमास (sixfold) qualifying the whole set

• ucyate: is said/declared
• ucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present passive, 3rd person singular

Characters & Entities

• Manu
• Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about what defines a manvantara?

This verse states that a manvantara is identified by six components: Manu, the chief demigods, Manu’s sons, the heavenly rulers, the sages, and the partial incarnations of Lord Hari active in that period.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the manvantara in this way to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva is outlining how cosmic time is organized under the Lord’s governance, showing that each era is marked by specific leaders and by Hari’s aṁśāvatāras who sustain dharma and order.

Practical application of the manvantara teaching in modern life?

It encourages seeing history and change as guided by divine order—leadership, wisdom, and spiritual protection work together—so one can cultivate faith, follow dharma, and seek shelter of Hari amid worldly shifts.