महर्षय: सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा |
मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमा: प्रजा: || 6||
maharṣhayaḥ sapta pūrve chatvāro manavas tathā
mad-bhāvā mānasā jātā yeṣhāṁ loka imāḥ prajāḥ
mahā-ṛiṣhayaḥ—the great Sages; sapta—seven; pūrve—before; chatvāraḥ—four; manavaḥ—Manus; tathā—also; mat bhāvāḥ—are born from me; mānasāḥ—mind; jātāḥ—born; yeṣhām—from them; loke—in the world; imāḥ—all these; prajāḥ—people
Translation:
The seven great Rishis, the ancient four Devarshis, the fourteen Manus, were born of My nature from My mind; and from them have come forth all these beings in the world.
Commentary:
The Lord declares that the Seven great Rishis, the four ancient Devarshis, the fourteen Manus, were all born of the divine samkalpa, partaking of His nature. These indeed are the original ancestors and the creators of this world. They are all devotees of the Lord, possessing perfect Atmajnana.
The inscrutable power of the Lord is proclaimed here, for, by a wish of His mind, came forth these beings of the highest order. And from them originated all the beings of the world.
The mysterious power of the Lord should inspire the deepest reverence in the heart of every man. Man’s duty is to bow down before God and remember Him forever and ever.
The great sages, the Devarshis and the Manus are of the nature of the Lord. They are the highest devotees and perfected beings, (i.e) they are jnanis of the highest order, who possess direct knowledge of Brahman. They know the highest Truth. All the beings of the world, are the progeny of these great souls. They partake of the nature of God, and all others partake of the nature of these Divine manifestations. Should not people then be full of devotion and wisdom? Is it not a denial of one’s heritage and birthright to entangle himself in the bonds of the objective world and get lost in the wilderness of Samsara? People remember their sage-ancestors when they perform their morning and evening ablutions (Sandhyavandanam). It is a reminder to all that like their ancestors they should rise to the plane of the spirit. Ancestral property, wealth, power, and possessions, do not save men from destruction if they forget the Divinity in them and sink in the mire of ignorance and delusion. It is the ancient wisdom alone that could save man from sorrow and death.
Let people be filled with this great idea that they have for their ancestors the great sages, Devarshis and Manus. Let them share the devotion and wisdom of their Divine forefathers. No one should think that he is low-born and weak. The blood of the Divine fore-fathers is flowing in everybody’s veins, irrespective of his caste and faith. So let one demand his birthright of devotion and knowledge. It is not the personal possession of anyone. All beings have right over that Divine knowledge. The outcastes as well as people of the highest rank and position possess the same right to wisdom and perfection. The Lord has proclaimed the Divine birth-right of all men. So if one should be asked to declare his ancestry, let him say boldly that he is the child of the great Rishis and Manus. If anybody thinks he is low-born, he degenerates into a vile man. If he thinks that he is pure and perfect, he does become the real child of the ancient Masters. Therefore, may all beings remember their holy fore-fathers every day, and by acquiring their great qualities, break the shackles of bondage and enjoy perfect peace and joy.
Among the above-mentioned, the Devarshis (Sanaka Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Sanatsujata) taught the path of the withdrawal from worldly life (Nivrithimarga). The fourteen Manus taught the path of Dharma, righteous conduct of life (Pravrittimarga). The first belongs to the line of the Gurus, and the second to the line of the ancestors. All these are brought forth from the Supreme Being, by a wish (samkalpa) of His mind. So ultimately all are the children of the Lord and He is the father of all. Since Sanaka and others are born-celibates, to say that people are born of them implies that they are their disciples (Sishyas), the children of their wisdom.
Question: Who are the ancestors of the human race?
Answer: The seven Rishis, the Four Devarshis, and the fourteen Manus.
Question: What is their nature?
Answer: They partake of the nature of the Lord.
Question: How were they brought forth?
Answer: By a wish of the Lord.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 10 🔻 (42 Verses)
