Canto 8 · Chapter 14 · 11 verses
The System of Universal Management
Manus, sages, kings, and demigods maintain religious principles and govern under the Supreme Lord’s orders.
What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects
Chapter summary
This chapter describes the duties allotted to Manu by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. All the Manus, as well as their sons, the sages, the demigods and the Indras, act under the orders of various incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. At the end of every catur-yuga, consisting of Satya-yuga, Dvāpara-yuga, Tretā-yuga and Kali-yuga, the sages, acting under the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, distribute the Vedic knowledge and thus reinstate eternal religious principles. Manu’s duty is to reestablish the system of religion. Manu’s sons execute Manu’s orders, and thus the entire universe is maintained by Manu and his descendants. The Indras are various rulers of the heavenly planets. Assisted by the demigods, they rule the three worlds. The Supreme Personality of Godhead also appears as incarnations in different yugas. He appears as Sanaka, Sanātana, Yājñavalkya, Dattātreya and others, and thus He gives instructions in spiritual knowledge, prescribed duties, principles of mystic yoga, and so on. As Marīci and others, He creates progeny; as the king, He punishes the miscreants; and in the form of time, He annihilates the creation. One may argue, “If the all-powerful Supreme Personality of Godhead can do anything simply by His will, why has He arranged for so many personalities to manage?” How and why He does this cannot be understood by those who are under the clutches of māyā.
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7 verses on Manvantara (The Manus and right duty).
Verse map · 11 texts
- SB 8.14.1Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyStudy
Ask About Duty and Its Authority
Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired: O most opulent Śukadeva Gosvāmī, please explain to me how Manu and the others in each manvantara are engaged in their respective duties, and by whose order they are so engaged.
- SB 8.14.2Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyStudy
The Supreme Lord Appoints Universal Leaders
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The Manus, the sons of Manu, the great sages, the Indras and all the demigods, O King, are appointed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various incarnations such as Yajña.
- SB 8.14.3Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyStudy
Universal Affairs Follow the Lord’s Direction
O King, I have already described to you various incarnations of the Lord, such as Yajña. The Manus and others are chosen by these incarnations, under whose direction they conduct the universal affairs.
- SB 8.14.4Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyStudy
Our Eternal Duty Is Serving Kṛṣṇa
At the end of every four yugas, the great saintly persons, upon seeing that the eternal occupational duties of mankind have been misused, reestablish the principles of religion.
- SB 8.14.5Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyStudy
Pass On the Lord’s Instructions Unchanged
Thereafter, O King, the Manus, being fully engaged according to the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, directly reestablish the principles of occupational duty in its full four parts.
- SB 8.14.6Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyStudy
Peace Through Succession and Saṅkīrtana
To enjoy the results of sacrifices [yajñas], the rulers of the world, namely the sons and grandsons of Manu, discharge the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead until the end of Manu’s reign. The demigods also share the results of these sacrifices.
- SB 8.14.11Manvantara· The Manus and right dutyStudy
Fourteen Manus in One Day of Brahmā
In one kalpa, or one day of Brahmā, there take place the many changes called vikalpas. O King, all of these have been previously described to you by me. Learned scholars who know the past, present and future have ascertained that in one day of Brahmā there are fourteen Manus.