Bhagavad Gita 10.6

Vibhuti Yoga · English Translation

The seven great sages, the ancient four and also the Manus, possessed of powers like Me (on account of their minds being fixed on Me), were born of (My) mind; from them are these creatures born in this world.

Sanskrit

महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा | मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ||१०-६||

Transliteration

maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve catvāro manavastathā . madbhāvā mānasā jātā yeṣāṃ loka imāḥ prajāḥ ||10-6||

What Does This Verse Mean?

In this verse, Lord Krishna explains the origin of humanity to Arjuna by revealing that he is the source of all great spiritual teachers and ancestors. He states that seven ancient sages (the Saptarishis), four mind-born progenitors (Marichi, etc.), and twelve Manus were born directly from his divine will through meditation. The key teaching is that because these beings kept their minds fixed on Krishna, they inherited a fraction of his power to create life and guide the world.

The Teaching Behind It

This verse is central to Bhakti Yoga (the path of devotion) within the broader framework of Vedanta, illustrating that love for the Divine transforms the mind into a creative force. It develops the concept that all creation originates from the Supreme Consciousness and returns to it when one's focus remains fixed on the source.

Word by Word

महर्षयः the great Rishis, सप्त seven, पूर्वे ancient, चत्वारः four, मनवः Manus, तथा also, मद्भावाः possessed of powers like Me, मानसाः from mind, जाताः born, येषाम् from whom, लोके in world, इमाः these, प्रजाः creatures

Classical Commentary

In the beginning I was alone and from Me came the mind and from the mind were produced the seven sages (such as Bhrigu? Vasishtha and others), the ancient four Kumaras (Sanaka? Sanandana? Sanatkumara and Sanatsujata), as well as the four Manus of the past ages known as Savarnis, all of whom directed their thoughts to Me exclusively and were therefore endowed with divine powers and supreme wisdom. The four Kumaras (chaste, ascetic youths) declined to marry and create offspring. They preferred to remain perpetual celibates and to practise BrahmaVichara or profound meditation on Brahman or the Absolute. They were all created by Me, by mind alone. They were all mindborn sons of Brahma. They were not born from the womb like ordinary mortals. Manavah, men, the present inhabitants of this world, are the sons of Manu. The Manus are the mindborn sons of God. These creatures which consist of the moving and the unmoving beings are born of the seven great sages and the four Manus. The great sages were original teaches of BrahmaVidya or the ancient wisdom of the Upanishads. The Manus were the rulers of men. They framed the code or rules of conduct or the laws of Dharma for the guidance and uplift of humanity. The seven great sages represent the seven planes also. In the macrocosm? Mahat or cosmic Buddhi? Ahamkara or the cosmic egoism and the five Tanmatras or the five rootelements of which the five great elements, viz., earth, water, fire, air and ether are the gross forms, represent the seven great sages. This gross universe with the moving and the unmoving beings and the subtle inner world have come out of the above seven principles. In mythology or the Puranic terminology these seven principles have been symbolised and give human names. Bhrigu? Marichi? Atri? Pulastya? Pulaha? Kratu and Vasishtha are the seven great sages. In the microcosm? Manas (mind)? Buddhi (intellect)? Chitta (subconsciousness) and Ahamkara (egoism) have been symbolised as the four Manus and given human names. The first group forms the base of the macrocosm. The second group forms the base of the microcosm (individuals). These two groups constitute this vast universe of sentient life. Madbhava with their being in Me, of My nature.

Where This Happens

This verse occurs in Chapter 10 during the Kurukshetra battlefield while Lord Krishna is serving as Arjuna's charioteer. Having just begun to reveal his divine form (Vibhuti) by listing various manifestations of himself, Krishna aims to remove Arjuna's confusion and doubt about facing a battle against relatives. The listener, Arjuna, has been overwhelmed by the scale of war and is seeking reassurance that he is not fighting alone against destiny.

Living It Out Today

When you are leading a major project or making a difficult decision at work, remember that your success often stems from focusing on a higher purpose rather than just personal gain. If you approach your leadership with an attitude of service—like the ancient sages who focused their minds inwardly—you naturally attract talent and resources to help bring those ideas to life.

Explained for Children

Imagine you are drawing a picture with your favorite crayons, but then those drawings come alive and start making new pictures all by themselves. In this verse, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that he is like that special artist who created the very first great teachers of wisdom. Just as a parent passes their love to a child through birth, these ancient sages were born from Krishna's mind because they loved him so much and thought about him constantly.

Daily Reflection

Today, I invite you to see your own creative spark not as something separate or accidental, but as a direct emanation from the Divine mind. When you feel overwhelmed by the chaos of life, remember that just like the ancient sages and Manus were born through devotion, your deepest potential is unlocked when you fix your awareness on the source of all being. You are never truly alone because every thought and action flows from that same divine intelligence.

A Practice for Today

Begin by closing your eyes and gently bringing awareness to the space between your thoughts, recognizing that this very mind is a reflection of the Divine Source. Visualize yourself as an expression born from that infinite consciousness, allowing the sense of separation to dissolve into a feeling of being held in the heart of all existence.

Key Teachings

The Mind as a Creative Vessel
This verse establishes that consciousness is not merely reactive but generative, capable of manifesting entire lineages through the power of focused thought. It teaches us that our mental state determines our reality and lineage, just as the divine mind gave birth to the primordial saviors.
Devotion as a Transformative Force
The sages possessed powers equal to the Divine specifically because their minds were fixed upon Him in devotion. This highlights that spiritual power is not inherent through physical effort alone, but arises from aligning one's intellect and will with the Source.
Divine Origin of All Beings
All living creatures trace their lineage back to these divine beings who were born directly from God, emphasizing a non-dual connection between creator and creation. It reminds us that every soul is part of this same sacred family tree rooted in the Divine.

Themes

Divine OriginDevotion and Mind ControlCreation of BeingsKarma YogaThe Self (Atman)Spiritual Lineage

Related Verses

2.47 3.30 4.18 6.5 18.66

Read This Next

2.47 — To understand how fixing one's mind on duty and action (Karma Yoga) parallels the mental fixation described in this verse.
3.30 — For a practical instruction on surrendering all actions to God, which is the method by which we align our minds like the sages did.
12.15 — To see how those who are dear to Krishna possess the same qualities of a mind fixed on Him that allowed the ancient sages to manifest their glory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who exactly are the 'seven great sages' (Saptarishis) mentioned here?

The seven ancient Rishis include Marichi, Atri, Angirasa, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and Vasistha. In Vedantic tradition, they are considered the first minds to receive divine knowledge from Krishna through meditation.

What does 'Madbhava' mean in this context?

'Madbhava' translates to being of a nature similar to the Divine or possessing qualities like God's. It implies that these sages were not just born physically, but their spiritual consciousness was so aligned with Krishna that they mirrored his divine power.

How does this verse relate to the concept of reincarnation?

The verse suggests a cycle where all beings originate from the Divine mind. While it focuses on the initial creation, Vedanta teaches that these souls eventually evolve through cycles of birth and rebirth back toward their source when they master meditation.

Why does Krishna mention 'Manus' specifically in this verse?

'Manu' refers to the lawgivers or progenitors who preside over different cosmic ages (manvantaras). Mentioning them highlights that even the rulers of time and society are created from the same divine source as the sages, emphasizing unity in creation.

In Other Languages: Bhagavad Gita 10.6 →