O wise Maitreya, let me recount in proper order the succession of rulers, gods, sages, and their sons in the Manvantaras, those great cosmic intervals that mark the ages of creation. In the Svārociṣa Manvantara, the second of these epochs, the gods known as Pārāvata and Tuṣita prevailed. At their head stood Vipascit, mighty Indra of that time. Among the sages, seven shone forth: Ūrja, Stambha, Prāṇa, Vāta, Ṛṣabha, Niraya, and Parīvān. Svārociṣa’s sons, such as Caitra and Kimpuruṣa, were renowned for their strength. Thus, the second Manvantara unfolded. Now listen to the third Manvantara. Here, Manu was named Uttama, and Suśānti became the lord of the gods. Their sons included Sudhāman, Satyā, Japā, Pratardana, and Vaśavartin, forming twelve distinguished groups. The seven great sages of this age, all sons of Vasiṣṭha, guided the world’s wisdom. Uttama Manu’s sons, like Aja and Paraśudīpta, became leaders of men. In the fourth interval, called Tāmasa, the gods were known as Supāras and Harayas, with Satyas and Sudhiyas forming twenty-seven divine groups. Śivi, famed for a hundred sacrifices, was Indra. The seven sages were Jyotirdhāma, Puthu, Kātya, Citrāgni, Dhanaka, and Pīvara. Tāmasa’s sons, including Nara, Khyāti, Keturūpa, and Jānujaṅgha, were powerful rulers. In the fifth Manvantara, Raivata became Manu, and Vibhu was Indra. The gods, grouped as Amitābhā, Bhūtarayā, Vaikuṇṭhas, and Susamedhas, numbered fourteen. The seven sages—Hiraṇyaroma, Vedāśri, Ūrdhvabāhu, Vedabāhu, Sudhāma, Parjanya, and Avyaya—guided this era. Among Raivata’s sons were Balabandhu, Saṃbhāvya, Satyakā, and others, all mighty kings. These four Manus—Svārociṣa, Uttama, Tāmasa, and Raivata—are remembered as descendants of the royal sage Priyavrata. Priyavrata, through austerity and devotion to Viṣṇu, obtained the blessing that his own descendants would rule these Manvantaras. In the sixth Manvantara, Manu was known as Cākṣuṣa, and Manojava was Indra. The gods were grouped as Āpyā, Prasūta, Bhavyā, Pṛthukā, Lekhā, and three others, making eight divine groups. The sages—Sumedhā, Virajā, Haviṣmān, Uttama, Madhu, Atināmā, and Sahiṣṇu—were renowned for their wisdom. Cākṣuṣa Manu’s sons, Ūru, Pūru, and Śatadyumna, ruled the earth with might. Now, in the seventh and current Manvantara, Manu is Śrāddhadeva, the illustrious son of Vivasvat. The gods here include the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, and others, with Purandara (Indra) as lord of the thirty gods. The seven great sages are Vasiṣṭha, Kāśyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Viśvāmitra, and Bharadvāja. Among Manu’s sons are Ikṣvāku, Nṛga, Dhṛṣṭa, Śaryāti, Nariṣyanta, Nābhāga, Iṣṭa, Karūṣa, Pṛṣadhra, and Sumahān—nine righteous sons famed across the worlds. Throughout all these Manvantaras, the power of Viṣṇu, pure and incomparable, remains established, presiding as the divine force in each age. In the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, a portion of this power was born as Yajña, the mind-born god from Ākūti. When Svārociṣa Manvantara arrived, Viṣṇu appeared as Ājita, born from Tuṣitā, together with the Tuṣita gods. In the Uttama Manvantara, he was again Tuṣita; in Satyā, he became Satya, among the excellent Satyas. In Tāmasa Manvantara, Hari was born from Haryā, together with the Haris. During Raivata Manvantara, divine Hari arose from Saṃbhūti, among the Raivata gods. In Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, the supreme Vaikuṇṭha was born from Vikuṇṭhā, with the Vaikuṇṭha gods. When the Vaivasvata Manvantara began, Viṣṇu took form as Vāmana, born of Aditi and Kāśyapa. By three strides, he conquered the worlds and bestowed the three realms, free of obstacles, upon Purandara. Such are the manifestations of Viṣṇu in the seven Manvantaras, nurturing all peoples. Because this universe is pervaded by his power, he is called Viṣṇu, from the root ‘viś’, meaning ‘to enter’. All the gods, Manus, seven sages, sons of Manu, and Indra—the lord of thirty gods—are expressions of Viṣṇu’s inexhaustible power. Hearing this, Maitreya asked, “You have described the seven Manvantaras. O sage among the twice-born, please tell me about those yet to come.” Śrī Parāśara replied: “Saṃjñā, daughter of Viśvakarma, became the wife of Sūrya. From her were born Manu, Yama, and Yamī, O sage.” Thus, the succession of Manus, gods, sages, and their offspring is revealed, each age sustained by the divine power of Viṣṇu, who enters and pervades all creation.