Srimad Bhagavatam: Canto 8

The king said: 'Oh great sage, can you please describe to me the activities in which all these Manus and the others are engaged during each manvantara and who appoints them?'

The king said: 'O great sage, could you please describe to me the respective duties in which all these Manus and the others, in each manvantara are engaged and who appoints them? (Vedabase)

Text 2

The rishi said: 'Oh King, the Manus and all their sons, the sages, the Indras and the godly souls no doubt all resort under the rule of the Original Person.

The rishi said: 'The Manus and all their sons, the sages and, o King, the Indras and the godly no doubt all resort under the rule of the Original Person. (Vedabase)

Text 3

The Lord of Sacrifice, Yajña, and the other incarnations of the Supreme Personality I already discussed, oh King, constitute the lead followed by the Manus and others in charge of the universal affairs.

The Manus and others in charge of the universal affairs are, o King, inspired by the Lord of Sacrifice Yajña and the other incarnations of the Supreme Personality that I have already discussed. (Vedabase)

Text 4

In disregard of the penance as [exemplified] by the sages, in the course of a mahâyuga the Vedic instruction is lost that promotes the sanâtana dharma [the customary Vedic duties according to status and vocation, see also 3.12: 41].

When at the end of each mahâyuga the saints by dint of their austerity witness how gradually misuse has risen with the loss of [the respect for] the vedic instruction, is there for that purpose the sanâtana dharma [the customary vedic duties to age and vocation, see also 1.17: 24-25]. (Vedabase)

Text 5

With that in mind the Manus are engaged, for as long as they are present in this world, in directly establishing this fourfold dharma as instructed by the Lord, oh ruler of man [see also B.G. 4: 1].

Therafter are the Manus in each of the four yugas to the instruction of the Lord engaged in directly reestablishing for the time of their existence in this world the dharma in the full sense of all its four regulative principles, o ruler of man [see also B.G. 4: 1]. (Vedabase)

Text 6

Till the end of the era the rulers of the universe [the heirs of Manu] execute that order, just as the demigods and the other divisions of enjoyers of the results of the sacrifices do this [see also B.G. 4: 2].

The demigods and the other divisions of enjoyers of the results of sacrifice are also engaged in that business; by them do the rulers in the world execute what was ordained till the end of his [Manu's] reign [see also B.G. 4: 2]. (Vedabase)

Text 7

Indra maintains all the places of the three worlds by providing all the rain that the world needs and [thus] enjoys the excellent opulence of the three worlds that is given by the Supreme Lord.

Indra, the ruler of heaven, enjoys the great opulences of the three worlds given by the Supreme Lord and fathers all the places of them three by pouring out rain over the earth as much as is needed.(Vedabase)

Text 8

In every yuga the Lord assumes the forms of liberated persons [the perfected souls or the Siddhas] to explain the transcendental knowledge, He assumes the forms of great saints [rishis] to explain what karma entails [performing rituals] and He assumes the forms of great lords of yoga in order to teach the science of unifying in consciousness.

According each yuga explains the Lord the transcendental knowledge assuming the forms of liberated persons [the perfected or siddhas], great saints [rishis] and great lords of yoga to teach the work of unification in the consciousness. (Vedabase)

Text 9

In the form of the founding fathers [the Prajâpatis] He creates offspring, to annihilate the miscreants He assumes the form of kings and in the form of time He is there to put an end to everything that became different in following the basic qualities of nature.

As the founding fathers [the prajâpatis] He creates offspring; to annihilate the miscreants He takes the form of kings and in the form of time is He there to put an end to everything that grew different to the modes of nature. (Vedabase)

Text 10

People who under the influence of mâyâ are bewildered by the illusion of His names and forms and [approach Him with] different views [dars'anas], are looking for Him but cannot find Him [compare B.G. 18: 66].

With all the people searching for Him, who under the influence of mâyâ are bewildered in different names and different forms, can He not been found by the illusion of [the controversial of] the differing points of view [compare B.G. 18: 66]. (Vedabase)

Text 11

With all these changes [of the Manus] that I described as taking place in one day of Brahmâ [one kalpa] I [thus] reported about the fourteen manvantaras the scholars speak about.'

All these changes [vikalpas] I described as taking place in one day of Brahmâ [one kalpa] - to which the scholars speak of fourteen manvantaras - are evidence of this.' (Vedabase)