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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.
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Canto 8 · Chapter 14: The System of Universal Management
8.13.368.14.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.14.1

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 8.14.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

मन्वन्तरेषु भगवन्यथा मन्वादयस्त्विमे ।

यस्मिन्कर्मणि ये येन नियुक्तास्तद्वदस्व मे ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

manvantareṣu bhagavan

yathā manv-ādayas tv ime

yasmin karmaṇi ye yena

niyuktās tad vadasva me

Translation

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.

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.

Ask About Duty and Its Authority

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit respectfully asks Śukadeva Gosvāmī to explain the duties of Manu and the others.

  2. 2

    He wants to understand how they carry out their respective duties in each manvantara.

  3. 3

    He also asks by whose order they are engaged. His inquiry concerns both their work and the authority directing it.

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 14: The System of Universal Management

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācaKing Parīkṣit said
  2. manvantareṣuin the reign of each Manu
  3. bhagavanO great sage
  4. yathāas
  5. manu-ādayaḥthe Manus and others
  6. tubut
  7. imethese
  8. yasminin which
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 8.14

    In this verse: “inquired”, “inquiry”, “understand”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.14

    In this verse: “duties”

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 can Parīkṣit’s respectful inquiry guide the way I ask questions while studying?

Practice

Write down one sincere question you have about the duties described in this verse.

Live this todayAsk About Duty and Its AuthorityThis 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 8.14.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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