The word purve meaning predecessor establishes a link to the past. This past is the previous Manvantara or age of Manu.

From the mind of Brahma the seven great sages Marīchi, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasistha were all born to inaugurate the day arising of Brahma.

Although Bhrigu was also born from the mind of Brahma and a great sage, he was subsequent to the others.

The four Manus named Sāvarṇikas are Brahma, Rudra, Dharma and Dakṣa and they are responsible for overseeing the maintenance of creation.

The fourteen Manus named Manvantaras are headed by Svāyambhūva Manu and are appointed to administrate the creation for their allotted time span.

All the human beings in creation are descendants from these aforementioned. They materially create and materially sustain their descendants which include the whole human population in creation every moment throughout time until the commencement of the cosmic dissolution.

Lord Krishna states the words mad-bhāva meaning of His nature, this confirms that Brahma, Rudra, the Manus, the seven sages, etc. are all endowed with His nature and imbued with a spark of His potency and are followers of His divine plan in all situations and circumstances.

“पूर्वसप्तपयः - मरीचिरत्रयडिगरसी पुलस्त्यः पुलहः कृतुः वशिष्ठश्च महातेजाः | इति मोक्षधर्मोक्ताः | ते हि सर्वे पुराणमुच्यन्ते | चत्वारः प्रथमाः स्वायम्भुवाद्याः | तेषां हि इमाः प्रजाः | नहि भविष्यतामिमाः प्रजा इति युक्तम् | विभागः प्राधान्यं च प्राथमिकत्वादेव भवति | ताच्योक्तम् गौतमखिलेषु - स्वायम्भुवं स्वारोचिषं रैवतं च तथोत्तमम् | वेद यः स प्रजावान् इति | पूर्वेभ्यो ह्युत्तरा जायन्त इति च तेषां प्राधान्यम् | अजातेषु च ज्येष्ठ्यम् तापसस्य भगवदवतारत्वादनुक्तिः | तच्च भागवते प्रसिद्धम् | मानसत्वं च सवेषां मनुनामुक्तं भागवते — ततो मनुन् ससर्जान्ते मनसा लोकभावनान् इति | अन्यपुत्रत्वं परित्यज्यापि शरीरं तद् भवति | प्रमाणं चोभयवाक्यान्यथानुपपत्तिरेव | पूर्व इति विशेषणाच्चैतत्सिद्धिः | मत्तो भावो येषां ते मद्भावाः | ये ते ब्राह्मणो मनसा जातास्ते मत्त एवाभिजाता इति भावः ||” - Earlier the seers were seven - Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulah, Kratu and Vashishtha of the great splendor, thus, in Moksha Dharma and in Puraanaas. Among the four yugas, the first were Svayambhu and others. From them are born these creatures, therefore the reference इमाः प्रजाः is not for the future creatures to be born. This is proper interpretation. These four yugas are mentioned as the primary ones. “Those who know Svayambhu, Svarochita, Raivata and similarly Uttam, for them are assured good progeny...”, thus even in Gautam section. Since from the earlier Manus the subsequent are born, the earlier were the primary ones. Even though Tapasama is senior to Svarochita, his name is not mentioned here because he is one of the descents of the Lord and it would be incongruous with the statement मद्भाव मनसा जातः, thus in Bhagavat Puraana. In Bhagavat Puraana all the Manus have also been enumerated. At the end (four-faced Brahma) created from his mental impulse Manus, as the progenitors. Since they (the Manus) were created without renouncing the body it was possible for them to be born as Priyavrata's sons. Both interpretations are possible to be drawn. This is proved by the use of the word पूर्वे by Sri Krishna. मद्भावः - from My nature., Even though they were born from Brahma's mental impulse they were integrally born of मद्भावः.

“मरीचिरत्रयाङ्गिरसी पुलस्त्यः पुलहः कृतुः | वसिष्ठश्च महातेजाः पूर्वे सप्तर्षयः स्मृताः || इति ब्राह्मे | मनवो बोधवैशेष्याद देवा ब्रह्मादयः स्मृताः | विप्रादिवर्णभेदेन चत्वारो बहावेऽपि ते || दीनत्वाद देवनामानस्त्वन्ये ब्रह्मादिनामकाः | अवैष्णवकृतो यज्ञो दीनदेवैस्तु भुज्यते || वैष्णवस्तु कृतो यज्ञो देवैर्हि मनुनामकैः | मरीच्यादास्तु तत्पुत्रा मानवा नामतः स्मृताः || तत्पुत्रपौत्रा मुनयस्तथा मानवमानवाः | तेभ्यो मनुष्या इत्येषा मृष्टिर्विष्णोः समुत्थिताः || इति महाविष्णुपुराणे ||” - Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vashishtha of the great splendour were known as the earlier seven seers. Because of the exceptional intelligence, Brahma and other divinities were also called Manus. Even though these (gods) were many, these were referred to as four Manus, because of the fourfold division like Brahmins etc. Because of their weakness, some of the gods were called as dina - frail gods, while the others as Brahma, Rudra etc. The gods in whose favour sacrifices were performed, but not according to the rules recommended for Sri Vishnu, such ones were known as dina - frail gods. The sacrificial acts towards Sri Vishnu were done only by those gods who were known as Manus. The progeny of Marichi and others were known as maanavas, human beings. Their sons and grandsons thus became the humans, maanavas. These human beings formed part of the creation by Sri Vishnu, thus in Maha Vishnu Puraana.

“युज्यते येन योगोऽसावुपायः शक्तिरेव च | इति च | विशिष्टं भवनं विभूतिः | महत्त्वम् | विविधभवनं वा | योगः सामर्थ्यम् ||” - The method by which desires are enjoined is known as योग. योग primarily empowers differently the different manifestations. योग is the Power, Shakti.

6 "The seven mighty Sages of yore, as also the four Manus, have been born from Me—as mind born entities of whom descended are (all) these creatures in this world. (92) (They are) Kashyapa and other celebrated seven Sages; they are fully invested with all powers and among the sages are the most perfect in wisdom. Besides these, the four principal of the fourteen Manus, the first and primeval being "Swayambhu", these eleven in all, emanate from my mind, Oh Dhanurdhara, for the control and preservation of the order of the created universe. Ere the worlds were yet not shaped and the three regions were not laid out in full expanse, and the stuff of five gross elements was waiting to be formed, these celestial beings sprang into existence, and formed the worlds with guardian deities to protect them, and they presided over their destinies. In this way, these beings are rulers, with the entire universe as their subjects. Thus know then, the entire universe to be the spreading out of My Pure Being. Behold, there is at the start one single germ, which shooting forth becomes a stem and then grows into a seedling of branches. From the branches come out twigs and subtwigs and on these flourish the leaves and the foliage. From this foliage blossom flowers and fruit. Thus grows the entire tree: and yet strictly considered, it is but the single germ spreading out. In that way, I am the Primal Being that gives birth to Mind, and from that Mind came into being, the seven Sages and the four Manus. They created the guardian deities presiding over the worlds, which in their turn, added the world from which the whole group of created things sprang. Thus the entire universe is nothing but the outward spreading of My Being and only those that have faith in My Being and its emanations may be blessed with this insight.

[In the previous verses, the Lord mentioned His twenty glories, in the form of feelings. Now in this verse, He mentions His twenty-five divine glories, in the form of persons, who are administrators, of the entire creation.]

'Maharṣayaḥ sapta'—The seven great seers, are those who possess seven qualities—they are long lived, they have revealed sacred formulas, they are glorious, they possess divine vision, they are learned, they have realized righteousness, and they are inventors of 'Gotras' (sub-castes). These seven seers are—Marīci, Aṅgirā, Atri, Puḷastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasiṣṭha. They know Vedas, and are reputed as annotators of the Vedas. They are administrators, of creation and are appointed to help Brahmā, the creator, in his work.

'Pūrve catvāraḥ'—Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana and Sanatkumāra, were the first to be born, of the mind of Brahmā, after he did penance. They are manifestations of the Lord. They always remain, children of five years. They wander in the three worlds, to promulgate devotion, knowledge (wisdom) and dispassion. They always utter the words 'Hari Śaraṇam' (Refuge

in the Lord). They love divine discourses, and so one of them holds divine discourses and the other three, listen to him.

'Manavastathā'—In a day of Brahmā, which consists of 43,20,000,000 years of mortals, there are fourteen Manus. They are Svāyambhūva, Svarociṣa, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, Cākṣuṣa, Vaivasvata, Sāvarṇi, Dakṣasāvarṇi, Brahmasāvarṇi, Dharmasāvarṇi, Rudrasāvarṇi, Devasāvarṇi and Indrasāvarṇi.* They are creators and activators of the world, by carrying out Brahmā's orders.

'Mānasā jātāḥ'—They are born of the mind of Brahmā, in order to create the universe. So they can be called, Brahmā's sons. They can also be called the Lord's sons, because the Lord manifested Himself as Brahmā, in order to create the world. The whole creation, is the product of the Lord's mind.

'Madbhāvā'—They are all devoted to the Lord.

'Yeṣām loka imāḥ prajāḥ'—There are two types of creatures, in the world—those born of the contact of the male and female, and those born of word (sacred word or text) or preaching. The former, are called 'Binduja' while the latter are called 'Nādaja'.

All the great saints and souls of the past, the present and the future, following the path of renunciation, as well as Sanaka etc., who were not married, belong to the latter type, while the off-springs born of seven great sages and fourteen Manus, who were married, belong to the former category.

Appendix—The seven great sages, four Sanakas etc., and fourteen Manus— they are all born of the Lord's mind and therefore are inseparable (one) with God.

*Link:—After mentioning His divine glories, in the form of feelings and persons, from the fourth verse to the sixth verse,*

* A day of Brahmā consists of a thousand fourfold ages. Out of it one Manu rules over more than seventy-one fourfold ages. Now Brahmā is running in his fifty-first year in which the seventh Manu named Vaivasvata is ruling over.

now in the next verse, the Lord explains the fruit of knowledge, of divine glories.

महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा । मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ॥ ६ ॥

महर्षयः सप्त भृग्वादयः पूर्वे अतीतकाल—सम्बन्धिनः चत्वारो मनवः तथा सावर्णा इति प्रसिद्धाः। ते च मद्भावा मद्भतभावना वैष्णवेन सामर्थ्येन उपेता मानसा मनसा एव उत्पादिता मया जाता उत्पन्ना येषां मनूनां महर्षिणां च सृष्टिः लोके इमाः स्थावरजङ्गमाः प्रजाः ॥ ६ ॥

भृगु आदि सप्त महर्षि और पहले होनेवाले चार मनु जिनका अतीत कालसे सम्बन्ध है और जो 'सावर्ण' इस नामसे पुराणोंमें प्रसिद्ध हैं, ये सभी मुझमें भावनावाले—ईश्वरीय सामर्थ्यसे युक्त और मेरे द्वारा मनसे उत्पन्न किये हुए हैं, जिन मनु और महर्षियोंकी रची हुई ये चर और अचररूप सब प्रजाएँ लोकमें प्रसिद्ध हैं

तरी आघवांचि गुणीं वृद्ध । जे महर्षींमाजीं प्रबुद्ध । कश्यपादि प्रसिद्ध । सप्त ऋषी ॥ ९२ ॥

आणिकही सांगिजतील । जे चौदा आंतील । स्वायंभू मुख्य मुद्दल । चारी मनु ॥ ९३ ॥

ऐसें हे अकरा । माझां मनीं जाहाले धनुर्धरा । सृष्टीचिया व्यापारा- । लागोनियां ॥ ९४ ॥

जैं लोकांची व्यवस्था न पडे । जैं या त्रिभुवनाचे कांहीं न मांडे । तैं महाभूतांचे दळवाडें । अचुंबित असे ॥ ९५ ॥

तैंचि हे जाहाले । इहीं लोकपाळ केले । अध्यक्ष रचूनि ठेविले । इहीं जन ॥ ९६ ॥

म्हणौनि अकरा हे राजा । मग येर लोक यांचिया प्रजा । ऐसा हा विस्तारु माझा । ओळख तूं ॥ ९७ ॥

पाहें पां आरंभीं बीज एकलें । मग तेंचि विरूढलिया बूड जाहालें । बुडीं कोंभ निघाले । खांदियांचे ॥ ९८ ॥

खांदियांपासूनि अनेका । पसरलिया शाखोपशाखा । शाखांस्तव देखा । पल्लवपानें ॥ ९९ ॥

पल्लवीं फूल फळ । एवं वृक्षत्व जाहालें सकळ । तें निर्धारितां केवळ । बीजचि तें ॥ १०० ॥

ऐसें मी एकचि पहिलें । मग मी तें मनातें व्यालें । तेथ सप्तऋषि जाहाले । आणि चारी मनु ॥ १०१ ॥

इहीं लोकपाळ केले । लोकपाळीं विविध लोक सृजिले । लोकांपासूनि निपजले । प्रजाजात ॥ १०२ ॥

ऐसेनि हें विश्व येथें । मीचि प्रसवला ना निरुतें । परी भावाचेनि हातें । माने जया ॥ १०३ ॥

(10.92) सम्पूर्ण गुणों से श्रेष्ठ, महर्षियों में ज्ञानी, जो कश्यप इत्यादि प्रसिद्ध सात ऋषि हैं,

(10.93) और जो मुख्य चौदह मनुओं में से स्वायम्भुव इत्यादि चार श्रेष्ठ मनु हैं,

(10.94) ऐसे ये ग्यारह भाव हे धनुर्धर! सृष्टि के व्यापार के लिए मेरे मन से उत्पन्न हुए हैं। (10.95) जब लोकों की स्थिति भी नहीं हुई थी, जब इस त्रिभुवन की कुछ रचना भी न हुई थी, महाभूतों का समुदाय भी जब कुछ न करता हुआ स्तब्ध था,

(10.96) तभी ये ग्यारह भाव उत्पन्न हो गये थे। फिर इन्होंने लोकों की रचना की और उनमें मनुष्य श्रेष्ठ बनाये।

(10.97) अतएव ये ग्यारह ही राजा हैं और अन्य सब जग इनकी प्रजा है। इस प्रकार यह विश्वविस्तार मेरा ही समझना चाहिए।

(10.98) देखो, आरम्भ में केवल एक बीज रहता है, फिर वही अंकुररूप से फूटकर पौधा बन जाता है, तने में शाखाओं के अंकुर निकलते हैं,

(10.99) और अनेक शाखाओं से अनेक उपशाखाएँ फूटती हैं और उपशाखाओं में पल्लव और पत्ते फूटते हैं।

(10.100) पल्लवों से फूल और फल होते हैं। इस प्रकार सम्पूर्ण वृक्ष बनता है। परन्तु विचार कर देखने से वह सब केवल बीज ही है।

(10.101) वैसे हो पहले मैं एक ही हूँ। फिर उसी मुझसे मन उत्पन्न हुआ। उससे सात ऋषि और चार मनु उत्पन्न हुए। (10.102) इन्होंने लोकपाल उत्पन्न किये। लोकपालों ने अनेक लोकों की रचना की और उन लोकों से सब प्रजा उत्पन्न हुई।

(10.103) इस प्रकार इस विश्व में वास्तव में मैं ही विस्तृत हुआ हूँ। परन्तु भाव के द्वारा जब कोई ऐसा समझ ले तब न!

भावार्थ— सप्त महर्षि, (सनकादि) चार पूर्व पुरुष और (चौदह) मनु— ये मेरी सत्ता से मन से ही उत्पन्न हुए हैं, जिनसे कि यह सारी प्रजा उत्पन्न हुई है।

व्याख्या— अर्थात् यह मेरी ही मानस सृष्टि है, मुझमें ही स्थित है और मुझमें ही लीन हो जायगी। भिन्न-भिन्न प्रतीत होने पर भी ये मुझसे अभिन्न हैं, क्योंकि पूर्ण वस्तु तो एक ही हो सकती है, दो भी पूर्ण नहीं हो सकती, क्योंकि दो में देश काल परिच्छेद न होने पर भी वस्तु-परिच्छेद हो ही जायगा। अतः दोनों ही परिच्छिन्न सिद्ध होंगी।

प्रश्न— सप्त महर्षि कौन-कौन से हैं?

उत्तर— भिन्न-भिन्न मन्वन्तरों में भिन्न-भिन्न सप्तर्षि होते हैं। इस मन्वन्तर के सप्तर्षि ये हैं—मरीचि, अङ्गिरा, अत्रि, पुलस्त्य, पुलह, क्रतु और वसिष्ठ।

[पीछेके दो श्लोकोंमें भगवान्ने प्राणियोंके भाव-रूपसे बीस विभूतियाँ बतायीं। अब इस श्लोकमें व्यक्ति-रूपसे पचीस विभूतियाँ बता रहे हैं, जो कि प्राणियोंमें विशेष प्रभावशाली और जगत्की कारण हैं।]

**‘महर्षयः सप्त’**—जो दीर्घ आयुवाले; मन्त्रोंको प्रकट करनेवाले; ऐश्वर्यवान्; दिव्य दृष्टिवाले; गुण, विद्या आदिसे वृद्ध; धर्मका साक्षात् करनेवाले और गोत्रोंके प्रवर्तक हैं—ऐसे सातों गुणोंसे युक्त ऋषि सप्तर्षि कहे जाते हैं। मरीचि, अंगिरा, अत्रि, पुलस्त्य, पुलह, ऋतु और वसिष्ठ—ये सातों ऋषि उपर्युक्त सातों ही गुणोंसे युक्त हैं। ये सातों ही वेदवेत्ता हैं, वेदोंके आचार्य माने गये हैं, प्रवृत्ति-

धर्मका संचालन करनेवाले हैं और प्रजापतिके कार्यमें नियुक्त किये गये हैं। इन्हीं सात ऋषियोंको यहाँ ‘महर्षि’ कहा गया है।

**‘पूर्वे चत्वारः’**—सनक, सनन्दन, सनातन और सनत्कुमार—ये चारों ही ब्रह्माजीके तप करनेपर सबसे पहले प्रकट हुए हैं। ये चारों भगवत्स्वरूप हैं। सबसे पहले प्रकट होनेपर भी ये चारों सदा पाँच वर्षकी अवस्थावाले बालकरूपमें ही रहते हैं। ये तीनों लोकोंमें भक्ति, ज्ञान और वैराग्यका प्रचार करते हुए घूमते रहते हैं। इनकी वाणीसे सदा **‘हरिः शरणम्’** का उच्चारण होता रहता है। ये भगवत्कथाके बहुत प्रेमी हैं। अतः इन चारोंमेंसे एक वक्ता

१-सप्तैते सप्तभिश्चैव गुणैः सप्तर्षयः स्मृताः ॥

दीर्घायुषो मन्त्रकृत ईश्वरो दिव्यचक्षुषः। वृद्धाः प्रत्यक्षधर्माणो गोत्रप्रवर्तकाश्च ये ॥ (वायुपुराण ६१। १३-१४)

२-मरीचिरंगिराश्चात्रिः पुलस्त्यः पुलहः ऋतुः। वसिष्ठ इति सप्तैते मानसा निर्मिता हि ते ॥

एते वेदविदो मुख्या वेदाचार्याश्च कल्पिताः। प्रवृत्तिधर्मिणश्चैव प्राजापत्ये च कल्पिताः ॥

(महा०, शान्तिपर्व० ३४७। ६९-७०)

३-हरिः शरणमेवं हि नित्यं येषां मुखे वचः। (पद्मपुराणोक्त श्रीमद्भागवत-माहात्म्य २। ४८)

और तीन श्रोता बनकर भगवत्कथा करते और सुनते रहते हैं।

‘मनवस्तथा’—ब्रह्माजीके एक दिन-(कल्प-) में चौदह मनु होते हैं। ब्रह्माजीके वर्तमान कल्पके स्वायम्भुव, स्वारोचिष, उत्तम, तामस, रैवत, चाक्षुष, वैवस्वत, सावर्णि, दक्षसावर्णि, ब्रह्मसावर्णि, धर्मसावर्णि, रुद्रसावर्णि, देवसावर्णि और इन्द्रसावर्णि नामवाले चौदह मनु हैं। ये सभी ब्रह्माजीकी आज्ञासे सृष्टिके उत्पादक और प्रवर्तक हैं।

‘मानसा जाता:’—मात्र सृष्टि भगवान्के संकल्पसे पैदा होती है। परन्तु यहाँ सप्तर्षि आदिको भगवान्के मनसे पैदा हुआ कहा है। इसका कारण यह है कि सृष्टिका विस्तार करनेवाले होनेसे सृष्टिमें इनकी प्रधानता है। दूसरा कारण यह है कि ये सभी ब्रह्माजीके मनसे अर्थात् संकल्पसे पैदा हुए हैं। स्वयं भगवान् ही सृष्टि-रचनाके लिये ब्रह्मरूपसे प्रकट हुए हैं। अतः सात महर्षि, चार सनकादि और चौदह मनु—इन पचीसोंको ब्रह्माजीके मानसपुत्र कहें अथवा भगवान्के मानसपुत्र कहें, एक ही

परिशिष्ट भाव—सात महर्षि, चार सनकादि तथा चौदह मनु—ये सब भगवान्के मनसे पैदा होनेके कारण भगवान्से अभिन्न हैं।

सम्बन्ध—चौथेसे छठे श्लोकतक प्राणियोंके भावों तथा व्यक्तियोंके रूपमें अपनी विभूतियोंका और अपने योग-(प्रभाव-) का वर्णन करके अब भगवान् आगेके श्लोकमें उनको तत्त्वसे जाननेका फल बताते हैं।