1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 13: Description of Future Manus
8.13.358.14.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.13.36

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 8.13.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

राजंश्चतुर्दशैतानि त्रिकालानुगतानि ते ।

प्रोक्तान्येभिर्मित: कल्पो युगसाहस्रपर्यय: ॥ ३६ ॥

rājaṁś caturdaśaitāni

tri-kālānugatāni te

proktāny ebhir mitaḥ kalpo

yuga-sāhasra-paryayaḥ

Translation

O King, I have now described to you the fourteen Manus appearing in the past, present and future. The total duration of time ruled by these Manus is one thousand yuga cycles. This is called a kalpa, or one day of Lord Brahmā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Fourteen Manus Within One Day of Brahmā

  1. 1

    The description covers fourteen Manus appearing in the past, present and future.

  2. 2

    The total duration of time ruled by these Manus is one thousand yuga cycles.

  3. 3

    This span is called a kalpa. It is one day of Lord Brahmā.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Thirteenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Description of Future Manus.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Uncertainty → Cosmic order. The narrative resets the frame to cyclical cosmic governance.

Chapters 13–14 of Canto 8: Manus and universal management. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: Description of Future Manus

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He is born of Satrāyaṇa from the womb of Vitānā. The total duration of the periods ruled by these Manus is calculated to be one thousand catur-yugas, or 4,300,000 times 1,000 years.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rājanO King
  2. caturdaśafourteen
  3. etāniall these
  4. tri-kālathe three periods of time (past, present and future)
  5. anugatānicovering
  6. teto you
  7. proktānidescribed
  8. ebhiḥby these
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 8.13

    In this verse: “king”

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

How does this description of a day of Lord Brahmā broaden my sense of time?

Practice

Write one reminder: “A kalpa is one thousand yuga cycles, or one day of Lord Brahmā.”

Live this todayFourteen Manus Within One Day of BrahmāThis 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 8.13.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories