The Manvantaras

Shounaka said

Please describe in detail all the manvantaras, ruled by Manus. I wish to hear of them.

Suta replied

Bull among sages, I have already told you of six manvantaras: Svayambhuva, Svarochisha, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata and Chakshusha. The present Manu is called Vaivasvata. The future Manus will be Savarni, Rouchya, Brahma-Savarni, Dharma-Savarni, Rudra-Savarni, Deva-Savarni and Indra-Savarni. I have told the past, present and future Manus as I heard of them: fourteen Manus in the three times, who account for a kalpa of a thousand mahayugas. I will duly tell of the rishis, their sons and the hosts of gods. Shounaka, listen with joy; all are revered and praised. The seven rishis, Brahma's sons, are Marichi, Atri, illustrious Angiras, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya and Vasishtha. Sage, the seven sages are placed in the north. In the Svayambhuva manvantara the Yamas were the gods. Svayambhuva Manu had ten great-souled sons: Agnidhra, Agnibahu, Medha, Medhatithi, Jyotishmat, Dhritimat, Havya, Savana and Shubhra. Tiger among sages, it is said that Yajna was then Indra. Son, I have told of the first divine manvantara.

Now the second, accurately. The great sages were Urjastambha, Parastambha, Rishabha, Vasumat, Jyotishmat, Dyutimat and Rochishmat the seventh. The Indra then was Rochana. The gods in the Svarochisha manvantara were called Tushitas. Svarochisha Manu's ten great-souled sons were Harighna, Sukriti, Jyoti, Ayomurti, Aya, Smaya, Prathita, Manasyu, Nabha and Surya, all described as very brave and valiant. Sage, I have told the second.

Now the third. Vasishtha's sons are described as the seven sages, once Hiranyagarbha's infinitely energetic sons called Urjas. Best of rishis, Uttama Manu is said to have had ten sons: Isha, Urjita, Urja, Madhu, Madhava, Shuchi, Shukravaha, Nabhasa, Nabha and Rishabha. The gods were Satyavedashrutas and others. The Indra, lord of the three worlds, was Satyajit. So I have told the third supreme manvantara.

Now the fourth. The seven sages were Gargya, Prithu, Vagmi, Jaya, Dhata, Kapinaka and Kapivat. The Satyas formed the category of gods and the Indra was Trishikha. Hear of Manu's sons: Tamasa Manu's ten sons, great in their vows, were Dyutipota, Soutapasya, Tamahshula, Tapana, Taporati, Akalmasha, Dhanvi, Khadgi, Mahat and Rishi. So I have told of the fourth, the Tamasa.

Now the fifth. The seven sages were Devabahu, Jaya, the sage Vedashira, Hiranyaroma, Parjanya, Urddhabahu and Somapa, and there were others whose eyes were fixed on truth. The gods were Bhutarajas, whose nature was to perform austerities. The Indra was named Vibhu and was lord of the three worlds.

Raivata Manu is Tamasa Manu's brother. His sons were Arjuna, Panktivindhya and others, who live on Meru's slopes engaged in great austerities. Prajapati Ruchi's son will be the Manu called Rouchya, and through his queen Bhuti his son will be named Bhoutya. In this kalpa the future Manus are said to be seven, and for each there are said to be seven sages and gods in heaven. They will be Rama, Vyasa, Atreya, Diptimat, Bahushruta, Bharadvaja and Drona's son, the very radiant Ashvatthama. Goutama's son Sharadvat, Goutama, Kripa, Koushika, Galava, Ruru and Kashyapa will be the future great-souled, excellent sages. Svayambhu has spoken of three classes of future gods, sons of great-souled Kashyapa, Marichi's son. Bali, Virochana's son, will be Indra. Savarni Manu will have ten sons: Vishanga, Avanivat, Sumanta, Dhritimat, Vasu, Suri, Sura, Vishnu, Raja and Sumati. So the eighth is told.

Now the ninth, of Daksha-Savarni. The seven rishis of the Rouhitya manvantara will be Medhatithi of Pulastya's line, Vasu of Kashyapa's, Jyotishmat of Bhrigu's, Dhritimat of Angiras's, Vasishtha's son Savana, Atri's son Havya and Pulaha. There will be three classes of gods, sons of Rohita Prajapati, Diksha's son. The first Savarni's nine greatly energetic sons will be Dhrishtaketu, Diptaketu, Panchahasta, Nirakriti, Prithushrava, Bhuridyumna, Richika, Brihata and Gaya.

The tenth manvantara will be the second Savarni's. The seven supreme rishis will be Havishmat of Pulaha's line, Prakriti of Bhrigu's, Ayu-Mukti of Atri's, the undecaying Vasishtha, Prayati of Pulastya's, Bhamara of Kashyapa's and Anenasa-Satya of Angiras's. The classes of gods will be called Dvishimants, and their Indra is said to be Shambhu Maheshvara himself. Manu's ten sons will be Akshavat, Uttamouja, valiant Bhurishena, Shatanika, Niramitra, Vrishasena, Jayadratha, Bhuridyumna, Suvarcha and Archi.

The seven sages of the eleventh, the third Savarni's, will be Havishmat of Kashyapa's line, Vapushmat Varuna, Atri, Vasishtha, Angiras, Charudhrishya of Pulastya's line and the energetic, fiery Nihsvara. There are said to be three classes of gods, Brahma's sons described as Vidhatris. Nine sons are described for the third Savarni, Savarnas: Sarvaga, Susharma, Devanika, Kshemaka, Dridheshu, Khandaka, Darsha, Kuhu and Bahu. These will be Manu's sons.

The sages in the fourth Savarni's will be Vasishtha's son Dyuti, Atri's descendant Sutapa, the ascetic Murti of Angiras's line, Tapasvi of Kashyapa's, Tapodhana of Pulastya's, Taporati of Pulaha's and Bhargava, the store of austerities, as the seventh. There are said to be five classes of gods, sons born of Brahma's mental powers. Ritadhama will be Indra and will happily rule the three worlds.

In the next pleasant manvantara, the thirteenth, the seven great sages will be Dhritimat of Angiras's line, Havyavat of Pulastya's, Tattvadarshi of Pulaha's, Nirutsava Bhargava, Nishprapancha of Atri's, Nirdeha of Kashyapa's and Sutapa of Vasishtha's. Svayambhu has said there will be three classes of gods. Vichitrachitra will be Indra, lord of heaven. The sons of Rouchya Manu will be Naya, Dharmadhrita, Andhra, Sunetra, Kshatravriddhaka, Nirbhaya, Sutapa and Drona.

The true fourteenth manvantara will follow. The sages will be Agnidhra of Kashyapa's line, Magadha of Pulastya's, Bhargava Ativahya, Shuchi of Angiras's, Yukta of Atri's, Vasishtha's grandson Ajita and Pulaha. The gods will be the sacred Chakshushas and Shuchi will be Indra. Great sage, there are said to be five classes of gods. Manu's sons will be Turangabhiru, Budhna, Tanugra, Anugra, Atimani, Pravina, Vishnu, Sankrandana, Tejasvi, Sabala and Satya.

Men who rise in the morning and constantly recite the names of the past and future great sages gain happiness. In the former kalpa the earth was filled by those with rights. Suta said he had told of the past and future Manus, of whom infinitely energetic Sanatkumara told Vyasa. They kept their own dharma and protected the earth for a full thousand mahayugas, had offspring and did austerities, returning at the end to Brahma's world. Each manvantara is said to be a little more than seventy-one mahayugas. The fourteen Manus extended their deeds and are chanted of. In all manvantaras there is a fresh creation after destruction. Even speaking a hundred years one could not describe the manvantaras. When a thousand mahayugas are complete the kalpa is over, and then all beings are scorched by the sun's rays. Sage, with Brahma in front, all the Adityas enter supreme Hari Narayana, best among the gods. At the end of a kalpa he repeatedly creates beings, and as Kala Bhagavan Rudra destroys them again. In describing the Vaivasvata manvantara Suta would speak of this. He had thus told everything about the origin and destruction of the manvantaras, a sacred, blessed account that makes the line flourish.