Listen, O wise one, to the wondrous unfolding of the ages, as revealed in the ancient verses. In each Manvantara, when the appointed time arrived, the divine Hari, the protector and nurturer of all beings, took birth in forms suited to the era and its gods. During the Tāmasa Manvantara, Hari was born from Haryā, accompanied by the Haris, guiding the world with his presence. In the Raivata Manvantara, the illustrious Hari emerged from Saṃbhūti, shining among the Raivata gods as their foremost. When the Cākṣuṣa Manvantara dawned, the supreme deity Vaikuṇṭha was born from Vikuṇṭhā, together with the Vaikuṇṭha gods, sustaining the universe. As the Vaivasvata Manvantara began, O twice-born, Viṣṇu incarnated as Vāmana, the dwarf, born of Aditi and Kāśyapa. With three mighty strides, the great-souled Vāmana conquered all the worlds and granted the three realms, cleared of obstacles, to Purandara, the lord Indra. Thus, in the seven Manvantaras, these are the forms by which the peoples of the universe have been nurtured and protected. The entire cosmos is pervaded by the power of this great soul; hence, he is called Viṣṇu, derived from the root ‘viś,’ meaning ‘to enter.’ All the gods, Manus, seven sages, sons of Manu, and Indra—the lord of the thirty gods—are manifestations of Viṣṇu’s inexhaustible powers. Then Maitreya, eager for knowledge, spoke: “O revered sage, you have described the seven Manvantaras. Please tell me of those yet to come.” Śrī Parāśara replied: “Saṃjñā, daughter of Viśvakarma, became the wife of Sūrya. Her children were Manu, Yama, and Yamī. Unable to endure her husband’s dazzling radiance, Saṃjñā left her shadow, Chāyā, in her place and went to the forest to practice austerity. The Sun, mistaking Chāyā for Saṃjñā, begot three children with her: Śanaiścara, another Manu, and Tapati. When Chāyā, in anger, cursed Yama, Saṃjñā’s son, it was then revealed to Yama and the Sun that she was not the true mother. Vivasvān, through deep meditation, discovered Saṃjñā in the forest, where she had taken the form of a mare and was engaged in austerity. The Sun assumed the form of a stallion and begot the twin gods, the Aśvins, in her, and at the end of his seed, he also begot Revanta. The blessed Sun then brought Saṃjñā back to her rightful place, and Viśvakarman, her father, diminished the Sun’s radiance. Mounting the Sun on a lathe, Viśvakarman cut away an eighth portion of his excessive brilliance; yet the Sun’s remaining light was undiminished. O best of sages, the portion of Viṣṇu’s energy that was cut away by Viśvakarman, blazing intensely, fell to the earth. From that energy, Tvaṣṭṛ fashioned Viṣṇu’s discus, Śiva’s trident, the god of wealth’s palanquin, and other divine weapons. The spear of Guha and the weapons of the other gods were all enhanced by that same energy. The second Manu, born of Chāyā and Saṃjñā, is called Sāvarṇi, for he is of a different lineage than his elder brother. Now, O highly fortunate one, listen as I describe the eighth Manvantara, called the Sāvarṇika, which will belong to him. In that era, Sāvarṇi Manu will arise, and the principal gods will be Sutapas, Amitābhas, and others. Each group of these gods will number twenty. The seven sages of that time will be Dīptimān, Gālava, Rāma, Kṛpa, Droṇa, my son Vyāsa, and Ṛṣyaśṛṅga. By Viṣṇu’s grace, Bali, the sinless son of Virocana who moves in the lower worlds, will be Indra among them. Virajas, Urvarīvān, Nirmoka, and others will be the sons of Sāvarṇi Manu, ruling as kings among men. The ninth Manu will be Dakṣa Sāvarṇi. The Pāras, Marīcigarbhas, and Sudharmāṇas will each be threefold, and the gods will exist in groups of twelve, each with their own abode. Among them, Indra will be of great might and wondrous power. The seven sages will be Savana, Dyutimān, Bhavya, Vasu, Medhātithi, Jyotiṣmān as the seventh, and Satya. Dhṛtaketu, Dīptiketu, Pañcahasta, Nirāmaya, Pṛthuśravā, and others will be the sons of Dakṣa Māvarṇika. The tenth Manu will be Brahmasāvarṇi. Sūdhāmān and Viśuddha, and gods numbering a hundred, will be present then. Among them, Indra will be named Śānti, of great strength. The seven sages will be Haviṣmān, Sukṛta, Satya, Tapomūrti, Nābhāga of incomparable might, and Satyaketu. Sukṣetra, Uttamaujā, Bhūriṣeṇa, and others—ten in all—will be the sons of Brahmasāvarṇi, protecting the earth. The eleventh Manu will be Dharmasāvarṇi. The Vihaṅgamas, Kāmāgamas, Nirvāṇas, and the Ṛṣis will be the chief groups of gods at that time, each group numbering thirty. Their Indra will be Pṛṣā. The seven sages will be Niḥsvara, Agnitejas, Vapuṣmān, Ghaṇi, Āruṇi, Haviṣmān, and Anagha. Sarvatraga, Sudharmā, Devānīka, and others will be the sons of that Manu, ruling the earth. Thus, O sage, the succession of Manus, gods, sages, and kings continues, each era guided and protected by the inexhaustible power of Viṣṇu, who pervades and enters all creation.