B.G 10.06

महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा। मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ॥६॥

The seven great sages and the four former Manus, who are My mind-born manifestations, from whom these creatures of the world have arisen.

Gīta Bhāshya 10.06

The seven great sages: Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and the greatly resplendent Vasiṣṭha. The four formar Manus: Svāyambhuva, Svārociṣa, Raivata, and Uttama. They are mind-born manifestations and not ordinary corporeal. The term 'madbhāvāḥ' refers to those who manifest from Me. Those who were born from the mind of Brahmā are indeed born from Me only is the intended meaning.

पूर्वे सप्तर्षयः -

The former seven sages:

"मरीचिरत्र्यङ्गिरसौ पुलस्त्यः पुलहः क्रतुः। वसिष्ठश्च महातेजाः"

Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and the greatly resplendent Vasiṣṭha.

इति मोक्षधर्मोक्ताः।

- stated thus in the Mokṣa-dharma.

ते हि सर्वपुराणेषु उच्यन्ते। चत्वारः प्रथमाः स्वायम्भुवाद्याः। तेषां हि इमाः प्रजाः। न हि भविष्यतां "इमाः प्रजाः" इति युक्तम्। विभागः प्राधान्यं च प्राथमिकत्वादेव भवति। गौतमखिलेषु च्चोक्तं -

They indeed are spoken of in all the Purāṇas. The first four, beginning with Svāyambhuva, are mentioned. Indeed, from them are these beings; it is not appropriate to say "these beings" are yet to come. Division and predominance (for the four Manu's out of fourteen) arise solely from their primacy. And this is stated also in the testimonials from sage Gautama:

"स्वायम्भुवं स्वारोचिषं रैवतं च तथोत्तमम्। वेद यः स प्रजावान्...॥"

"He who knows Svāyambhuva, Svārociṣa, Raivata, and likewise Uttama, is possessed of progeny."

इति।

- stated thus.

पूर्वेभ्यो ह्युत्तरा जायन्ते इत्येषां प्राधान्यम्। अजातेषु ज्यैष्ठ्यम्। तापसस्य भगवदवतारत्वात् अनुक्तिः। तच्च भागवते प्रसिद्धम्। मानसत्वं च सर्वेषां मनूनां उक्तं भागवते -

Since the later ones are born from the former, their predominance is thus explained. Among the unborn, seniority is recognized. The 'Tapasa-Manu' is not mentioned because he is an incarnation of the Lord. This is well known in the Bhāgavata. The mind-born nature of all the Manus is also declared in the Bhāgavata:

"ततो मनून् ससर्जान्ते मनसा लोकभावनान्।"

"Then, afterwards, He created by His mind the Manus, the progenitors of the worlds."

इति।

- stated thus.

अन्यपुत्रत्वं त्वपरित्यज्यापि शरीरं तद् भवति। प्रमाणं च उभयविध - वाक्यान्यथानुपपत्तिरेव। पूर्वे इति विशेणाच्च एतत्सिदि्धः।

Though being the son of another, without abandoning even the (original) body, that (transformation) happens. The authority is both kinds — scriptural statements and the impossibility of any other explanation. This is established also by the specificity of the term "former."

मत्तो भावो येषां ते मद्भावाः। ये ते ब्रह्मणो मनसा जाताः मत्त एव जाताः इति भावः ॥६॥

The term 'madbhāvāḥ' refers to those who manifest from Me. Those who were born from the mind of Brahmā are indeed born from Me only is the intended meaning.