In Bhagavad Gita 10.6, Krishna says the seven great sages, the four ancient ones and the Manus were born of his mind and share his nature; from them come all creatures in the world.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे
चत्वारो मनवस्तथा
मद्भावा मानसा जाता
येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ॥ १०-६ ॥
maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve
catvāro manavastathā
madbhāvā mānasā jātā
yeṣāṃ loka imāḥ prajāḥ
English transliteration maharshayah sapta poorve
chatvaaro manavastathaa
madbhaavaa maanasaa jaataa
yeshaam loka imaah prajaah ॥ 10.6 ॥
Translation / Meaning
The seven great sages of old, and the four before them, and also the Manus, sharing My nature, were born from My mind; from them come all these creatures of the world.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| महर्षयः maharṣayaḥ | great sages |
| सप्त sapta | seven |
| पूर्वे pūrve | of old |
| चत्वारः catvāraḥ | four |
| मनवः manavaḥ | the Manus |
| तथा tathā | also |
| मद्भावाः madbhāvāḥ | sharing My nature mat (My) + bhāvāḥ (nature) |
| मानसाः mānasāḥ | from the mind |
| जाताः jātāḥ | born |
| येषाम् yeṣām | from whom |
| लोके loke | in the world |
| इमाः imāḥ | these |
| प्रजाः prajāḥ | creatures |
Word-wise Chanting
- ma–har–ṣa–yaḥ sap–ta pūr–ve 8 syllables ma-har-sha-yah sap-ta poor-ve
- cat–vā–ro ma–na–vas–ta–thā | 8 syllables chat-vaa-ro ma-na-vas-ta-thaa
- mad–bhā–vā mā–na–sā jā–tā 8 syllables mad-bhaa-vaa maa-na-saa jaa-taa
- ye–ṣāṃ lo–ka i–māḥ pra–jāḥ || 10-6 8 syllables ye-shaam lo-ka i-maah pra-jaah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 10 Verse 6
Context
Krishna describes the origin of the progenitors of beings.
Meaning
The seven great ṛṣis, the four ancient sages (often identified as the Kumāras) and the Manus, the founding fathers of humanity, are mānasa, born from the Divine’s mind, and mad-bhāva, sharing its nature. From them descend all creatures of the world.
Commentators differ on the exact grouping of “the four”; some read them with the Manus. The point is clear: the lineages of wisdom and of life itself spring from the Divine.
In Practice
Remember that wisdom has a long lineage reaching back to the Divine. Feel gratitude to the teachers who passed it on to you.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (The Divine Manifestations). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.