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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe
8.1.38.1.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.1.4

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.1.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीऋषिरुवाच

मनवोऽस्मिन्व्यतीता: षट् कल्पे स्वायम्भुवादय: ।

आद्यस्ते कथितो यत्र देवादीनां च सम्भव: ॥ ४ ॥

śrī-ṛṣir uvāca

manavo ’smin vyatītāḥ ṣaṭ

kalpe svāyambhuvādayaḥ

ādyas te kathito yatra

devādīnāṁ ca sambhavaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: In the present kalpa there have already been six Manus. I have described to you Svāyambhuva Manu and the appearance of many demigods. In this kalpa of Brahmā, Svāyambhuva is the first Manu.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Svāyambhuva Is the First Manu

  1. 1

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī said that six Manus had already passed in the present kalpa.

  2. 2

    Svāyambhuva is the first Manu in this kalpa of Brahmā.

  3. 3

    Śukadeva Gosvāmī had already described Svāyambhuva Manu and the appearance of many demigods.

How it feels

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The Manus, Administrators of the Universe

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Since Parīkṣit Mahārāja was eager to know all this, Śukadeva Gosvāmī gradually described all the Manus, beginning with the six Manus who had appeared in the past. The first Manu was Svāyambhuva Manu.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.1
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-ṛṣiḥ uvācathe great saint Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. manavaḥManus
  3. asminduring this period (one day of Brahmā)
  4. vyatītāḥalready past
  5. ṣaṭsix
  6. kalpein this duration of Brahmā’s day
  7. svāyambhuvaSvāyambhuva Manu
  8. ādayaḥand others
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I distinguish what has already been described from what I still need to learn?

Practice

Write a short summary noting that Svāyambhuva is the first Manu and that six Manus had already passed.

Live this todaySvāyambhuva Is the First ManuThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 8.1.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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