Bhagavad-Gita: Chapter 10, Verse 6

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Visnuswami

Sridhara Swami's Commentary

Furthermore Lord Krishna explains that in the Puranas which are ancient Vedic literatures are many proofs concerning the great sage Bhrgu, the seven sages who are Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasistha and others such as the four Kumaras and the Svayambhuva Manu; all who are endowed by the Supreme Lords essence and in whom He has placed a portion of His power and potency. This very power is being illustrated as all of these great beings were manifested from the mind of the Supreme Lord as a mere desire of His and all of them are the factual grandsires of all progeny on Earth multiplying and multiplying in the worlds as sons, grandsons and great grandsons as well as disciples grand disciples and great grand disciples and so forth and so on as the case may be.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Madhvacarya

Madhvacarya's Commentary

The seven great sages of an earlier age are Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasisitha of magnificent splendour. It is found in the Moksa Dharma abd throughout the Puranas. Among the Manus the first was Svayambhu and the others were Sarochisa, Raivata and Uttama of a previous age and from them came all humans and not from Bhrgu and others who came after and are from our present age. The words imah prajah spoken by Lord Krishna denotes the descending lineage of the four orders being brahmins, ksatriyas, vaisyas and sudras and does not refer to any beings born in the future. So these four Manus headed by Svayambhu are the primary ones and the otherss coming after are subsequent ones. Even in the Gautama text it has been mentioned: Those who are connected to Svayambhu, Svarochita, Raivata and Uttama have very good progeny.

Even though Tapasama is senior to Svarochita, his name is not mentioned here because he is one of the descendants of the Supreme Lord and so it would be incongruous with the words manasa jata referring to the mentally expanded forms from Brahma. This is recorded in the Bhagavat Purana where descriptions of the Manus have been enumerated, that Brahma created the Manus from his mind and it also states that without relinquishing the body given to them by Brahma it was possible for them to be born as Priyavrata's sons. Both interpretations are capable to be accepted. This is proven by Lord Krishna using the word purve meaning their predecessors. The use of the word mad-bhava meaning from His energy confirms that even though they were created from the mind of Brahma, they are integrally endowed with Lord Krishna's potency.

Now begins the summation.

The Brahma Purana states that Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vashistha of great splendour were earlier known as the seven sages Because of exceptional intelligence Brahma and other demigods were sometimes known as Manus. Even though the demigods were numerous they were sometimes referred to as Manus because of the divisions of the four orders. Because of weakness some of the demigods were known as dina or weak while other demigods such as Brahma and Rudra were known as strong. The demigods for whose favour worship was done not to propitiate Lord Krishna but instead to acquire some material benefits were known as dina. The worship and propitiation directed towards Lord Krishna was performed only by those demigods who were known as Manu and they did not direct their worship to any other source than Him. The Maha Vishnu Purana states: The progeny of Marici and others were known as manavas or human beings. Their sons and grandsons and great grandsons gradually populated part of the material creation of the Supreme Lord Krishna.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Ramanuja

Ramanuja's Commentary

The word purve meaning predecessor establishes a link to the past. This past is the previous manvantara or age of Manu. From the mind of Brahma the seven great sages Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasistha were all born to inaugurate the day arising of Brahma. Although Bhrgu was also born from the mind of Brahma and a great sage, he was subsequent to the others. The four Manus named Savarnikas are Brahma, Rudra, Dharma and Daksa and they are responsible for overseeing the maintenance of creation. The fourteen Manus named Manvantaras are headed by Syambhuva Manu and are appointed to administrate the creation for their allotted time span. All the human beings in creation are descendants from these aforementioned. They materially create and materially sustain their descendants which includes the whole human population in creation every moment throughout time until the commencement of the cosmic dissolution. Lord Krishna states the words mad-bhava meaning of His nature, this confirms that Brahma, Rudra, the Manus, the seven sages, etc. are all endowed with His nature and imbued with a spark of His potency and are followers of His divine plan in all situations and circumstances.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya:

Nimbaditya

Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary

Nevertheless the seven great sages being Marici, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasistha followed later by Bhrgu and others sages. The four elder seers being the Kumaras: Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat and Sanatana were born even earlier to these sages and the 14 Manus headed by Svayambhuva and also before Shivas 11 Rudras were manifested. All of the aforementioned fully consider the Supreme Lord Krishna to be the ultimate creator, preserver and destroyer of the complete material manifestation and all are completely devoted to the Supreme Lord without reservation following His direction in all situations and circumstances. Sometimes it may externally appear as if they are bewildered or belligerent as it sometimes appears in the case of Shiva; but these mirages are merely to enhance the lila or divine pastimes of Lord Krishna. His devotees to whom He grants moksa or liberation from material existence were originally created from His will, not from the womb of any female and from the seven great sages along with the four Kumaras, the 14 Manus and 11 Rudras have descended the entire human population producing sons, grandsons, great grandsons etc. all within the scope of the four orders being Brahmin, Ksatriya, Vaisya and sudra in accordance with their previous respective actions.

It should be understood that Brahma being empowered by the will of Lord Krishna manifested the four Kumara's and the Rudra's from his mind. While Svayambhuva Manu and his wife Satarupa were manifestations of the two halves of the golden egg from whence sprang creation in one age as willed by the Supreme Lord. The 13 subsequent Manus were born from a mothers womb. The four Kumara's created earlier had no interest in producing progeny being indifferent to material nature. Thus the seven great sages were empowered with the task of procreation the population of humans and they also become world preceptors establishing and propagating the Vedic religion through the medium of actions. The Manu's are empowered for universal protection. The Rudra's are empowered for universal destruction. The four Kumara's being themselves great liberated beings are empowered to liberate others from the cycle of birth and death throughout creation and to establish and propagate the path of detachment and renunciation from the material. In the Moksa Dharma it is stated after the origin of the seven great sages that they are knowers of the Vedas and are known as world preceptors appointed for begetting progeny. Similarly after the account of the Kumara's it states that after attaining atma tattva or soul realisation they resorted to the path of renunciation and being experts in yoga or the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness, they are universally known as liberated holy preceptors.

Manu's protect and Rudra's destroy. In the Visnu Purana is stated: O' brahmins, Visnu, Manu, Rudra and others as well as all beings exemplify the glory of the Supreme Lord Krishna. In the Bhagavat Purana, II.VII.V Brahma states: O' ascetics I performed penance to create all the various and diverse beings. First arising from my penance Sana was produced which became Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanat and Sanantana known as the four Kumara's. To them I gave instructions about the atma or eternal soul in all sentient beings and which became dormant at the end of the previous cycle of existence. Also in the Bhagavat Purana XI.XIII.XIV beginning etavan yoga adisto Lord Krishna states: The actual system of yoga taught by My devotees headed by Sanaka Kumara is to completely withdraw the mind from the external senses directly concentrating it on the Supreme Lord.

It should never mistakenly be considered that the seven great sages existed previously before the Manu's and the Kumara's as this would be erroneous. The Kumara's are absolutely elder even to the Manu's and their names and number equalling four does not include any of the 14 Manus who are enumerated in the Puranas as follows: Svayambhuva, Svarocisa, Uttama, Tamasa, Raivata, Caksusa, Vaivasvata, Savarni, Daksa Sarvani, Brahma Sarvani, Dharma Sarvani, Rudra Sarvani, Deva Sarvani and Indra Sarvani. Out of these 14 Manus the first six have already served out there appointed time and passed. We are presently protected by the seventh Manu known as Vaivasvata and the Markandaya Purana, Saptasati XIII.XXI confirms that the eighth Manu will be called Sarvani. So in conclusion it should be crystal clear that the Manu's are elder to the seven great sages and that the four Kumara's are even senior to the Manu's.