B.G 10.06

maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve catvāro manavastathā। madbhāvā mānasā jātā yeṣāṁ loka imāḥ prajāḥ ॥6॥

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.

pūrve saptarṣayaḥ -

The former seven sages:

"marīciratryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ। vasiṣṭhaśca mahātejāḥ"

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

iti mokṣadharmoktāḥ।

- stated thus in the Mokṣa-dharma.

te hi sarvapurāṇeṣu ucyante। catvāraḥ prathamāḥ svāyambhuvādyāḥ। teṣāṁ hi imāḥ prajāḥ। na hi bhaviṣyatāṁ "imāḥ prajāḥ" iti yuktam। vibhāgaḥ prādhānyaṁ ca prāthamikatvādeva bhavati। gautamakhileṣu ccoktaṁ -

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:

"svāyambhuvaṁ svārociṣaṁ raivataṁ ca tathottamam। veda yaḥ sa prajāvān...॥"

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

iti।

- stated thus.

pūrvebhyo hyuttarā jāyante ityeṣāṁ prādhānyam। ajāteṣu jyaiṣṭhyam। tāpasasya bhagavadavatāratvāt anuktiḥ। tacca bhāgavate prasiddham। mānasatvaṁ ca sarveṣāṁ manūnāṁ uktaṁ bhāgavate -

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:

"tato manūn sasarjānte manasā lokabhāvanān।"

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

iti।

- stated thus.

anyaputratvaṁ tvaparityajyāpi śarīraṁ tad bhavati। pramāṇaṁ ca ubhayavidha - vākyānyathānupapattireva। pūrve iti viśeṇācca etatsididhaḥ।

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."

matto bhāvo yeṣāṁ te madbhāvāḥ। ye te brahmaṇo manasā jātāḥ matta eva jātāḥ iti bhāvaḥ ॥6॥

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.

Gīta Tātparya 10.06

Testimonials from Brahma and Mahavishnu Purāṇa are quoted to elaborate.

"marīciratryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ। vasiṣṭhaśca mahātejāḥ pūrve saptarṣayaḥ smr̥tāḥ॥"

Marīci, Atri, Aṅgiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, and the greatly resplendent Vasiṣṭha are remembered as the former seven sages.

iti brāhme।

- stated thus in the Brahma Purāṇa.

"manavo bodhavaiśeṣyād devā brahmādayaḥ smr̥tāḥ। viprādivarṇabhedena catvāro bahavo'pi te॥ dīnatvāt devanāmānaḥ stvanye brahmādināmakāḥ। avaiṣṇavakr̥to yajño dīnaiḥ daivaistu bhujyate॥ vaiṣṇavaistu kr̥to yajño devairhi manunāmakaiḥ। marīcyādyāstu tatputrā mānavāḥ nāmataḥ smr̥tāḥ॥ tatputrapautrā munayaḥ tathā mānavamānavāḥ। tebhyo manuṣyā ityeṣā sr̥ṣṭiḥ viṣṇoḥ samutthitā॥"

"The Manus are remembered as gods beginning with Brahmā due to the distinction of understanding. Divided into castes like brāhmaṇas etc., they are four and also many. Some due to being lower in rank, are called gods, but others are called by names like Brahmā. A sacrifice performed by non-Vaiṣṇavas is enjoyed by lower gods, whereas one performed by Vaiṣṇavas is enjoyed by the gods known as Manus. The offsprings beginning with Marīci are remembered by name as Mānavas. Their sons and grandsons, the sages and the Manus and their descendants — from them, human beings have arisen; thus, this creation has emerged from the Lord Viṣṇu."

iti mahāviṣṇupurāṇe ॥6॥

- stated thus in the Mahāviṣṇu Purāṇa.