In the ancient cycles of time, known as Manvantaras, the earth was ruled by mighty kings descended from the Manus, the progenitors of mankind. Among them, Ūru, Pūru, and Śatadyumna, renowned for their strength and valor, were the sons of Cākṣuṣa Manu, and they each became rulers over the earth, upholding righteousness in their domains. Now, in the present, the seventh Manvantara is presided over by the illustrious Śrāddhadeva, also called Vaivasvata Manu, the wise and noble son of Vivasvat, the Sun. In his era, the gods—the Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, and others—shine forth, and Purandara, known as Indra, stands as the lord of the thirty principal deities. The seven great sages of this age are Vasiṣṭha, Kāśyapa, Atri, Jamadagni, Gautama, Viśvāmitra, and Bharadvāja. These revered seers guide the world with their wisdom. Among the sons of Manu Vaivasvata are Ikṣvāku, Nṛga, Dhṛṣṭa, Śaryāti, Nariṣyanta, the celebrated Nābhāga, Iṣṭa, as well as Karūṣa, Pṛṣadhra, and the illustrious Sumahān. Altogether, these nine uphold dharma and are famed throughout the worlds. Underlying all these ages is the incomparable power of Viṣṇu, pure and all-pervading, which remains established in existence and presides as divinity in each Manvantara. In every cycle, a portion of Viṣṇu’s power takes form as the protector and nourisher of the world. In the first, the Svāyambhuva Manvantara, this divine power was born as Yajña, the mind-born god, son of Ākūti. In the second, the Svārociṣa Manvantara, he appeared as Ājita, born from Tuṣitā, accompanied by the Tuṣita gods. In the third, the Uttama Manvantara, he was again Tuṣita, and in the Satyā Manvantara, he appeared as Satya, with the noble Satyas. During the Tāmasa Manvantara, Hari was born from Haryā, together with the Haris. In the Raivata Manvantara, the divine Hari was born from Saṃbhūti, leading the Raivata gods. In the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara, the supreme god Vaikuṇṭha was born from Vikuṇṭhā, together with the Vaikuṇṭha gods. In the present, the Vaivasvata Manvantara, Viṣṇu appeared as Vāmana, born from Aditi and Kāśyapa. As Vāmana, he conquered the three worlds in just three strides and restored the three realms, cleared of all obstacles, to Purandara, the king of the gods. These are the forms by which that great soul, Viṣṇu, has nurtured the peoples through the seven Manvantaras. Because his power pervades the entire universe, he is called Viṣṇu, from the root "viś," meaning "to enter." All the gods, the Manus, the seven sages, the sons of Manu, and Indra himself—indeed, all are manifestations of Viṣṇu’s inexhaustible power. At this point, Maitreya, the devoted disciple, asked the sage Parāśara to describe the Manvantaras yet to come. Parāśara replied, recounting the lineage of the future Manus. Saṃjñā, the daughter of Viśvakarma, became the wife of Sūrya, the Sun. She bore him three children: Manu, Yama, and Yamī. However, unable to endure her husband’s blazing radiance, Saṃjñā left her shadow, Chāyā, in her place and retreated to the forest to practice austerity. Unaware of the substitution, the Sun begot three more children with Chāyā: Śanaiścara, another Manu, and Tapati. When Chāyā, in anger, cursed Yama, her true identity was revealed to both Yama and the Sun. Realizing the truth, Vivasvān, through deep meditation, discovered Saṃjñā in the forest, where she had taken the form of a mare and was engaged in intense austerities. Assuming the form of a stallion, the Sun united with her, and from their union were born the twin gods, the Aśvins, and, at the end of his seed, Revanta. The blessed Sun then brought Saṃjñā back to her rightful place, and Viśvakarman, her father, diminished the Sun’s overwhelming radiance. Placing the Sun on a lathe, Viśvakarman cut away an eighth portion of his brilliance, yet the remaining radiance of the Sun was not lessened. The portion of Viṣṇu’s energy that was thus removed blazed as it fell to earth. From this divine energy, Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned Viṣṇu’s discus, Śiva’s trident, the god of wealth’s palanquin, and many other weapons for the gods. The spear of Guha and the weapons of the other gods were likewise enhanced by Viśvakarman with this same energy. The second Manu, born of Chāyā and called Sāvarṇi, is of a different lineage than his elder brother, and thus is known as Sāvarṇi. Parāśara then declared that the eighth Manvantara, called the Sāvarṇika, will be presided over by this Sāvarṇi Manu. In the Sāvarṇika Manvantara, the principal gods will be the Sutapas, Amitābhas, and others, each group numbering twenty. The seven sages of this era will be Dīptimān, Gālava, Rāma, Kṛpa, Droṇa, Vyāsa (Parāśara’s own son), and Ṛṣyaśṛṅga. By Viṣṇu’s grace, Bali, the sinless son of Virocana who now dwells in the lower worlds, will become the Indra of that time. The sons of Sāvarṇi Manu—Virajas, Urvarīvān, Nirmoka, and others—will rule as kings among men. After Sāvarṇi, the ninth Manu will be Dakṣa Sāvarṇi. In his era, the gods will be divided into three groups: the Pāras, Marīcigarbhas, and Sudharmāṇas, each with twelve deities and their own abodes. Among them, the Indra will be of wondrous might. Thus, through the passage of time and the changing of Manvantaras, the world is guided and protected by the inexhaustible power of Viṣṇu, manifesting in many forms, ensuring the order and welfare of all creation.