After describing the distinctions among calves, milkers, milk, and vessels, the sage paused and asked his listeners what more they wished to know. At once, the wise Lomaharshana, eager for deeper knowledge, requested a detailed account of all the Manvantaras and the creations that had come before them. The assembled sages, addressing Sūta, expressed their desire to hear the truth of how many Manus there had been, the duration of their reigns, and the details of the Manvantaras. Sūta, honored among the twice-born, replied with humility, “O Brāhmaṇas, to recount the full history of all the Manvantaras would take hundreds of years—it is vast beyond measure. Hear, then, a concise summary as tradition preserves it.” He began: “First was Svāyambhuva Manu, followed by Svārociṣa, Uttama, Tāmasa, Raivata, and Cākṣuṣa. The Manu who now presides is Vaivasvata. In the future, Sāvarṇi, Raibhya, Raucyas, and Merusāvarṇya will be remembered. Thus, there are four Manus spoken of—those of the past, the present, and those yet to come. I have named these Manus as I have heard from the ancients. Now, listen as I declare the sages, the sons, and the divine hosts of each Manvantara. In the beginning, the seven sons of Brahmā—Marīci, Atri, the venerable Aṅgirā, Pulaha, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vasiṣṭha—were the sages. In the north, there were also seven sages: Āgnīdhra, Āgnibāhu, Medhya, Medhātithi, and Vasu. The ten mighty sons of Svāyambhuva Manu were Jyotiṣmān, Dyutimān, Havya, Savala, and Putrasaṃjñaka. This was the first Manvantara, graced by sages such as Aurva, son of Vasiṣṭha, Stamba, and Kaśyapa. Prāṇa, Bṛhaspati, Datta, Atri, and Cyavana were renowned for their vows, as Vāyu himself has spoken. In the second Manvantara, that of Svārociṣa Manu, the gods called Tuṣitas presided. Among them were Havighna, Sukṛti, Jyotir, Āpa, and Mūrti. The sons of Svārociṣa Manu were Pratīta, Nabhasya, Nabha, and Ūrja. The rulers of the earth in this age were famed for their strength and valor. Now, hear of the third Manvantara. The seven sons of Vasiṣṭha, known as the Vāsiṣṭhas, were the sages. The sons of Hiraṇyagarbha, Ūrjā, born of great brilliance, were also celebrated. The ten sons of Manu, born of Uttamā, were Iṣa, Ūrja, Tanūrja, Madhur, Mādhava, Śuci, Śukra, Saha, Nabhasya, Nabha, and Bhānava. The gods of this era too are remembered. In the fourth Manvantara, that of Tāmasa Manu, the sages were Kāvyas, Pṛthu, Agni, Jahnu, and Dhātā. Kapīvān and Akapīvān were among the seven sages, and their sons and grandsons are praised in the Purāṇas. The gods in this interval were Dyuti, Tapasya, Sutapas, Tapobhūta, and Sanātana. Tāmasa Manu’s ten sons were Taporati, Akalmāṣa, Tanvī, Dhanvī, Paraṃtapa, and others. The best of sages in this era, as Vāyu has told, included Devabāhu, Yadudhra, the sage Vedaśirā, Hiraṇyaromā, Parjanya, Ūrdhvabāhu, Somaja, Satyanetra, and Ātreya. The gods called Abhūtarajasas and the Prakṛtis were also remembered, as were Vāriplava and Raibhya. Now, listen to the sons of Raivata Manu: Dhṛtimān, Avyaya, Yukta, Tattvadarśī, Nirutsuka, Āraṇya, Prakāśa, Nirmoha, Satyavāk, and Kṛtī. This marks the fifth Manvantara. In the sixth Manvantara, that of Cākṣuṣa Manu, the seven great sages were Bhṛgu, Nabha, Vivasvān, Sudhāmā, Virajā, Atināmā, and Sahiṣṇu. These sages, renowned from childhood, dwelled separately in heaven, and the five groups of gods were remembered by name. The sons of the sage Aṅgiras and the Nāḍvaleyas were the ten famous sons. The sages beginning with Ruru were prominent in this interval. Now, hear of the present, the seventh Manvantara, that of Vaivasvata Manu. The sages are Atri, Vasiṣṭha, the venerable Kaśyapa, the great Gautama, Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra, and Jamadagni, the son of the great Ṛcīka. The Sādhyas, Rudras, Viśvedevas, Vasus, Maruts, Ādityas, the two Aśvins, and the two Vaivasvata deities are the gods who now preside. The ten illustrious sons of Vaivasvata Manu, headed by Ikṣvāku, are renowned in this age. The sons and grandsons of these mighty sages are found in all directions, upholding dharma and protecting the world. In every Manvantara, seven groups of seven sages have arisen, ensuring the establishment of righteousness and the well-being of all creation.