Canto
8
Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
(1) The honorable king said: 'Till now, o guru, I've extensively heard about the dynasty of Svâyambhuva Manu wherein the great rulers of the universe were of creation; please describe for us also the other Manus [see also 3.11: 23-28]. (2) O brahmin, please tell us, so eager to hear, about all the, by the learned glorified and described, appearances and activities of the Supreme Lord during the changes of the manvantaras [the periods of the Manus * , see also 2.1: 36, 2.3: 9, 2.7: 2, 2.10: 4]. (3) As for the past, the present and the future, what are the activities that the Supreme Lord, the creator of this universe, in a particular era, o brahmin, either was engaged in, is engaged in and will be engaged in? [compare B.G. 2: 12 and **]
(4) The great rishi said: 'For this day of Brahmâ [kalpa] have already the six of Svâyambhuva and other Manus passed. I already described the first one to you as well as the appearance of all the godly with him [see 2.7: 43-45, 3.12: 54, 4.1 and 4.8: 6]. (5) From Âkûti and Devahûti, the two daughters of [Svâyambhuva] Manu, were, for instructing the dharma and the jñâna, the sons born who are accepted as being the Supreme Lord. (6) Before I in full described Kapila to you [see Canto 3b], now I'll tell you about all that was done by Yajña[-mûrti or-pati], o best of the Kurus. (7) The master of the world [Svâyambhuva Manu], the husband of S'atarûpâ, after totally renouncing his kingdom went with his wife into the forest for doing his tapas [see: 3.22: 31]. (8) At the river Sunandâ he for a hundred years performed the most severe austerities touching the earth standing on his one leg [see also 4.8: 78-79] murmuring the following, o scion of Bhârata.
(9) Lord Manu said: 'He by whom this whole universe is set in motion is not moved by the universe, He who is always awake while one is asleep in this body, Him, the One knowing, does the living entity not know [see also B.G. 18: 55]. (10) What by Him, the Supersoul everywhere present, with everything animate and inanimate in this and in all other universes, is allotted one may enjoy; on the property of anyone else one should not infringe. (11) He is not seen by the living entity although His eye always sees, He as the original source of all beings never diminishes, He is the godhead and companion [see 6.4: 24] everyone should worship. (12) Nor is there of Him a beginning, an end or a middle, He belongs to nowhere and to no one, He is the inside nor [just] the outside of the cosmic creation; all these insights on His form and on Him as the cause of the whole universe all together make up the Greatest Truth [see also 2.1: 24]. (13) That complete of the universe known by so many names [like purusha and virâth rûpa] is the Supreme Controller, the Ultimate Truth of Him personally, self-effulgent, beginningless and the oldest; He by His external energy engenders birth, death and maintenance, by the potency of His Self and Spirit He remains aloof, inactive and untouched [compare 1.7: 23]. (14) Therefore do all the saintly people for the purpose of being free from karma in the beginning perform fruitive labor [karma yoga], as a person engaging thus indeed as good as always attains liberation [see also 1.5: 12, 1.2: 13 and B.G. 3: 9, 6: 3, 3: 6]. (15) Because of His own gain being satisfied from within, becomes the Supreme Lord, the Controller, engaged indeed never entangled with it and hence are persons following Him never disheartened. (16) Unto Him who free from selfhood is acting for our benefit, who is complete in knowledge, has no desire to enjoy, is fulfilled, and not led by others, unto Him who is there to instruct all of mankind and to lay out His path; unto that master of all principles and duties I pray that each may surrender.'
(17) S'rî S'uka said: 'The philosophical mantras thus prayed concentrated the mind, but the Asuras witnessing speeded thereafter desiring to guzzle to their taste. (18) When Yajña [Vishnu], the Lord in each his heart, saw them that way determined, ruled the Supreme Personality, after having killed them, together with the Yâmas [the ones vowed, His sons] and surrounded by the godly the heavenly worlds.
(19) The second Manu next became Svârocisha, the son of Agni and of him there were also the sons headed by Dyumat, Sushena and Rocishmat. (20) In that period became, all together faithful to the Absolute Truth, Rocana the heavenly king [the Indra] and were Tushita and other ones there as the godly, while Ûrja, Stambha and others were the seven saints. (21) Of the saint Vedas'irâ, impregnating the wife named Tushitâ, was the Lord who was celebrated as Vibhu born. (22) Eighty-eight thousand saintly persons fixed to the vow took initiation and instruction from Him who remained a celibate brahmacârî.
(23) The third who became the Manu was named Uttama, a son of Priyavrata [see 5.1], and of him there were the sons called Pavana, S'rîñjaya, Yajñahotra and others. (24) The seven sages were the sons of Vasishthha headed by Pramada, the ones of Satya, Vedas'ruta and Bhadra were the godly and Satyajit was the Indra. (25) From the demigod Dharma was from the womb of Sûnritâ, the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead celebrated as Satyasena born, appearing together with the Satyavratas. (26) He together with his friend Satyajit killed all the yaksha and râkshasa sworn liars and evil spirits of misconduct who constantly harass the living beings.
(27) The fourth Manu to be was the brother of Uttama known by the name of Tâmasa, and thus there were his ten sons headed by Prithu, Khyâti, Nara and Ketu. (28) The Satyakas, the Haris and the Vîras were the godly, Tris'ikha was the heavenly king and the seven sages during the reign of Tâmasa were the ones headed by Jyotirdhâma. (29) The godly named the Vaidhritis were the sons, o King, who by their own strength managed to protect the Vedas that over time had been lost. (30) In that period appeared the Supreme Lord begotten by Harimedhâ from the womb of Harinî and He was called Hari; by Him was Gajendra the king of the elephants, freed from the mouth of a crocodile.'
(31) The honorable king [Parîkchit] said: 'O son of Vyâsa, this is what we would like to hear from you: in what way delivered the Lord the king of the elephants who was harassed by a crocodile? (32) Whenever and wherever there are the narrations in which one glorifies Hari, the Supreme Personality, Uttamas'loka [the Lord Praised in the Verses], finds one great piety, fortune, auspiciousness and all that is good'."
(33) S'rî Sûta said: "The son of Vyâsa, thus exhorted by the words of Parîkchit, the son of Arjuna who was awaiting his impending death, o dear brahmins, after complimenting him with great pleasure spoke in the assembly of sages who indeed longed to hear from him."
Source texts:
The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
The honorable king said: 'Till now, o guru, I've extensively heard about the dynasty of Svâyambhuva Manu wherein the great rulers of the universe were of creation; please describe for us also the other Manus [see also 3.11: 23-28].King Parîkshit said: O my lord, my spiritual master, now I have fully heard from Your Grace about the dynasty of Svâyambhuva Manu. But there are also other Manus, and I want to hear about their dynasties. Kindly describe them to us. (Vedabase)
O brahmin, please tell us, so eager to hear, about all the, by the learned glorified and described, appearances and activities of the Supreme Lord during the changes of the manvantaras [the periods of the Manus * , see also 2.1: 36, 2.3: 9, 2.7: 2, 2.10: 4].
O learned brâhmana, S'ukadeva Gosvâmî, the great learned persons who are completely intelligent describe the activities and appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead during the various manvantaras. We are very eager to hear about these narrations. Kindly describe them. (Vedabase)
As for the past, the present and the future, what are the activities that the Supreme Lord, the creator of this universe, in a particular era, o brahmin, either was engaged in, is engaged in and will be engaged in? [compare B.G. 2: 12 and **]
O learned brâhmana, kindly describe to us whatever activities the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who created this cosmic manifestation, has performed in the past manvantaras, is performing at present, and will perform in the future manvantaras. (Vedabase)
The great rishi said: 'For this dag of Brahmâ [kalpa] have already the six of Svâyambhuva and other Manus passed. I already described the first one to you as well as the appearance of all the godly with him [see 2.7: 43-45, 3.12: 49-57, 4.1 and 4.8: 6].
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: In the present kalpa there have already been six Manus. I have described to you Svâyambhuva Manu and the appearance of many demigods. In this kalpa of Brahmâ, Svâyambhuva is the first Manu. (Vedabase)
From Âkûti and Devahûti, the two daughters of [Svâyambhuva] Manu, were, for instructing the dharma and the jñâna, the sons born who are accepted as being the Supreme Lord.
Svâyambhuva Manu had two daughters, named Âkûti and Devahûti. From their wombs, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared as two sons named Yajñamûrti and Kapila respectively. These sons were entrusted with preaching about religion and knowledge. (Vedabase)
Before I in full described Kapila to you [see Canto 3b], now I'll tell you about all that was done by Yajña[-mûrti or-pati], o best of the Kurus.
O best of the Kurus, I have already described [in the Third Canto] the activities of Kapila, the son of Devahûti. Now I shall describe the activities of Yajñapati, the son of Âkûti. (Vedabase)
The master of the world [Svâyambhuva Manu], the husband of S'atarûpâ, after totally renouncing his kingdom went with his wife into the forest for doing his tapas [see: 3.22: 31].
Svâyambhuva Manu, the husband of S'atarûpâ, was by nature not at all attached to enjoyment of the senses. Thus he gave up his kingdom of sense enjoyment and entered the forest with his wife to practice austerities. (Vedabase)
At the river Sunandâ he for a hundred years performed the most severe austerities touching the earth standing on his one leg [see also 4.8: 78-79] murmuring the following, o scion of Bhârata.
O scion of Bharata, after Svâyambhuva Manu had thus entered the forest with his wife, he stood on one leg on the bank of the River Sunandâ, and in this way, with only one leg touching the earth, he performed great austerities for one hundred years. While performing these austerities, he spoke as follows. (Vedabase)
Lord Manu said: 'He by whom this whole universe is set in motion is not moved by the universe, He who is always awake while one is asleep in this body, Him, the One knowing, does the living entity not know [see also B.G. 18: 55].
Lord Manu said: The supreme living being has created this material world of animation; it is not that He was created by this material world. When everything is silent, the Supreme Being stays awake as a witness. The living entity does not know Him, but He knows everything. (Vedabase)
What by Him, the Supersoul everywhere present, with everything animate and inanimate in this and in all other universes, is allotted one may enjoy; on the property of anyone else one should not infringe.
Within this universe, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Supersoul feature is present everywhere, wherever there are animate or inanimate beings. Therefore, one should accept only that which is allotted to him; one should not desire to infringe upon the property of others. (Vedabase)
He is not seen by the living entity although His eye always sees, He as the original source of all beings never diminishes, He is the godhead and companion [see 6.4: 24] everyone should worship.
Although the Supreme Personality of Godhead constantly watches the activities of the world, no one sees Him. However, one should not think that because no one sees Him, He does not see, for His power to see is never diminished. Therefore, everyone should worship the Supersoul, who always stays with the individual soul as a friend. (Vedabase)
Nor is there of Him a beginning, an end or a middle, He belongs to nowhere and to no one, He is the inside nor [just] the outside of the cosmic creation; all these insights on His form and on Him as the cause of the whole universe all together make up the Greatest Truth [see also 2.1: 24].
The Supreme Personality of Godhead has no beginning, no end and no middle. Nor does He belong to a particular person or nation. He has no inside or outside. The dualities found within this material world, such as beginning and end, mine and theirs, are all absent from the personality of the Supreme Lord. The universe, which emanates from Him, is another feature of the Lord. Therefore the Supreme Lord is the ultimate truth, and He is complete in greatness. (Vedabase)
That complete of the universe known by so many names [like purusha and virâth rûpa] is the Supreme Controller, the Ultimate Truth of Him personally, self-effulgent, beginningless and the oldest; He by His external energy engenders birth, death and maintenance, by the potency of His Self and Spirit He remains aloof, inactive and untouched [compare 1.7: 23].
The entire cosmic manifestation is the body of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth, who has millions of names and unlimited potencies. He is self-effulgent, unborn and changeless. He is the beginning of everything, but He has no beginning. Because He has created this cosmic manifestation by His external energy, the universe appears to be created, maintained and annihilated by Him. Nonetheless, He remains inactive in His spiritual energy and is untouched by the activities of the material energy. (Vedabase)
Therefore do all the saintly people for the purpose of being free from karma in the beginning perform fruitive labor [karma yoga], as a person engaging thus indeed as good as always attains liberation [see also 1.5: 12, 1.2: 13 and B.G. 3: 9, 6: 3, 3: 6].
Therefore, to enable people to reach the stage of activities that are not tinged by fruitive results, great saints first engage people in fruitive activities, for unless one begins by performing activities as recommended in the s'âstras, one cannot reach the stage of liberation, or activities that produce no reactions. (Vedabase)
Because of His own gain being satisfied from within, becomes the Supreme Lord, the Controller, engaged indeed never entangled with it and hence are persons following Him never disheartened.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in opulence by His own gain, yet He acts as the creator, maintainer and annihilator of this material world. In spite of acting in that way, He is never entangled. Hence devotees who follow in His footsteps are also never entangled. (Vedabase)
Unto Him who free from selfhood is acting for our benefit, who is complete in knowledge, has no desire to enjoy, is fulfilled, and not led by others, unto Him who is there to instruct all of mankind and to lay out His path; unto that master of all principles and duties I pray that each may surrender.
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, works just like an ordinary human being, yet He does not desire to enjoy the fruits of work. He is full in knowledge, free from material desires and diversions, and completely independent. As the supreme teacher of human society, He teaches His own way of activities, and thus He inaugurates the real path of religion. I request everyone to follow Him. (Vedabase)Text 17
S'rî S'uka said: 'The philosophical mantras thus prayed concentrated the mind, but the Asuras witnessing speeded thereafter desiring to guzzle to their taste.
S'ukadeva Gosvâmî continued: Svâyambhuva Manu was thus in a trance, chanting the mantras of Vedic instruction known as the Upanishads. Upon seeing him, the Râkshasas and asuras, being very hungry, wanted to devour him. Therefore they ran after him with great speed. (Vedabase)
When Yajña [Vishnu], the Lord in each his heart, saw them that way determined, ruled the Supreme Personality, after having killed them, together with the Yâmas [the ones vowed, His sons] and surrounded by the godly the heavenly worlds.
The Supreme Lord, Vishnu, who sits in everyone's heart, appearing as Yajñapati, observed that the Râkshasas and demons were going to devour Svâyambhuva Manu. Thus the Lord, accompanied by His sons named the Yâmas and by all the other demigods, killed the demons and Râkshasas. He then took the post of Indra and began to rule the heavenly kingdom. (Vedabase)
The second Manu next became Svârocisha, the son of Agni and of him there were also the sons headed by Dyumat, Sushena and Rocishmat.
The son of Agni named Svârocisha became the second Manu. His several sons were headed by Dyumat, Sushena and Rocishmat. (Vedabase)
In that period became, all together faithful to the Absolute Truth, Rocana the heavenly king [the Indra] and were Tushita and other ones there as the godly, while Ûrja, Stambha and others were the seven saints.
During the reign of Svârocisha, the post of Indra was assumed by Rocana, the son of Yajña. Tushita and others became the principal demigods, and Ûrja, Stambha and others became the seven saints. All of them were faithful devotees of the Lord. (Vedabase)
Of the saint Vedas'irâ, impregnating the wife named Tushitâ, was the Lord who was celebrated as Vibhu born.
Vedas'irâ was a very celebrated rishi. From the womb of his wife, whose name was Tushitâ, came the avatâra named Vibhu. (Vedabase)
Eighty-eight thousand saintly persons fixed to the vow took initiation and instruction from Him who remained a celibate brahmacârî.
Vibhu remained a brahmacârî and never married throughout his life. From him, eighty-eight thousand other saintly persons took lessons on self-control, austerity and similar behavior. (Vedabase)
The third who became the Manu was named Uttama, a son of Priyavrata [see 5.1], and of him there were the sons called Pavana, Srîñjaya, Yajñahotra and others.
O King, the third Manu, Uttama, was the son of King Priyavrata. Among the sons of this Manu were Pavana, Sriñjaya and Yajñahotra. (Vedabase)
The seven sages were the sons of Vasishthha headed by Pramada, the ones of Satya, Vedas'ruta and Bhadra were the godly and Satyajit was the Indra.
During the reign of the third Manu, Pramada and other sons of Vasishthha became the seven sages. The Satyas, Vedas'rutas and Bhadras became demigods, and Satyajit was selected to be Indra, the King of heaven. (Vedabase)
From the demigod Dharma was from the womb of Sûnritâ, the Supreme Lord, the Personality of Godhead celebrated as Satyasena born, appearing together with the Satyavratas.
In this manvantara, the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared from the womb of Sûnritâ took birth, who was the wife of Dharma, the demigod in charge of religion. The Lord was celebrated as Satyasena, and He appeared with other demigods, known as the Satyavratas. (Vedabase)
He together with his friend Satyajit killed all the yaksha and râkshasa sworn liars and evil spirits of misconduct who constantly harass the living beings.
Satyasena, along with His friend Satyajit, who was the King of heaven, Indra, killed all the untruthful, impious and misbehaved Yakshas, Râkshasas and ghostly living entities, who gave pains to other living beings. (Vedabase)
The fourth Manu to be was the brother of Uttama known by the name of Tâmasa, and thus there were his ten sons headed by Prithu, Khyâti, Nara and Ketu.
The brother of the third Manu, Uttama, was celebrated by the name Tâmasa, and he became the fourth Manu. Tâmasa had ten sons, headed by Prithu, Khyâti, Nara and Ketu. (Vedabase)
The Satyakas, the Haris and the Vîras were the godly, Tris'ikha was the heavenly king and the seven sages during the reign of Tâmasa were the ones headed by Jyotirdhâma.
During the reign of Tâmasa Manu, among the demigods were the Satyakas, Haris and Viras. The heavenly King, Indra, was Tris'ikha. The sages in saptarshi-dhâma were headed by Jyotirdhâma. (Vedabase)
The godly named the Vaidhritis were the sons, o King, who by their own strength managed to protect the Vedas that over time had been lost.
O King, in the Tâmasa manvantara the sons of Vidhriti, who were known as the Vaidhritis, also became demigods. Since in course of time the Vedic authority was lost, these demigods, by their own powers, protected the Vedic authority. (Vedabase)
In that period appeared the Supreme Lord begotten by Harimedhâ from the womb of Harinî and He was called Hari; by Him was Gajendra the king of the elephants, freed from the mouth of a crocodile.'
Also in this manvantara, the Supreme Lord, Vishnu, took birth from the womb of Harinî, the wife of Harimedha, and He was known as Hari. Hari saved His devotee Gajendra, the King of the elephants, from the mouth of a crocodile. (Vedabase)
The honorable king [Parîkchit] said: 'O son of Vyâsa, this is what we would like to hear from you: in what way delivered the Lord the king of the elephants who was harassed by a crocodile?
King Parîkshit said: My lord, Bâdarâyani, we wish to hear from you in detail how the King of the elephants, when attacked by a crocodile, was delivered by Hari. (Vedabase)
Whenever and wherever there are the narrations in which one glorifies Hari, the Supreme Personality, Uttamas'loka [the Lord Praised in the Verses], finds one great piety, fortune, auspiciousness and all that is good.'
Any literature or narration in which the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Uttamas'loka, is described and glorified is certainly great, pure, glorious, auspicious and all good. (Vedabase)
S'rî Sûta said: "The son of Vyâsa, thus exhorted by the words of Parîkchit, the son of Arjuna who was awaiting his impending death, o dear brahmins, after complimenting him with great pleasure spoke in the assembly of sages who indeed longed to hear from him.
S'rî Sûta Gosvâmî said: O brâhmanas, when Parîkshit Mahârâja, who was awaiting impending death, thus requested S'ukadeva Gosvâmî to speak, S'ukadeva Gosvâmî, encouraged by the King's words, offered respect to the King and spoke with great pleasure in the assembly of sages, who desired to hear him. (Vedabase)
*: There are fourteen Manus during a day of Brahmâ, and the age of each Manu lasts for seventy-one yugas. (see picture) Thus there are thousands of Manus during the life of Brahmâ. The six mentioned here are: Svâyambhuva, Svârocisha, Uttama, Tâmasa, Raivata and Câkshusha. A manvantara is a period to the measure of one cycle of the sun around the centre of our galaxy [see the Galactic Order].
**: Often quoted in this context is the dictum: 'nityo nityânâm cetanas cetanânâm'. Both the Lord and the living entities are eternal and sentient.
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