Lineage begins in the Divine.
Krishna speaks to Arjuna
महर्षयः सप्त पूर्वे चत्वारो मनवस्तथा |मद्भावा मानसा जाता येषां लोक इमाः प्रजाः ||१०-६||
maharṣayaḥ sapta pūrve catvāro manavastathā . madbhāvā mānasā jātā yeṣāṃ loka imāḥ prajāḥ ||10-6||
Use this verse when reflecting on tradition and lineage.
Meaning
The seven ancient great sages and the four Manus were born from My mind and nature; from them the beings of the world arose.
Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).
In plain words
Great lineages of creation arise from Krishna.
Word-by-word meaning
Tap a word to see its meaning.
Explanation
Krishna connects cosmic ancestry and human civilization back to divine origin. This gives people a sense of sacred lineage and continuity, not random isolation.
Read the traditional commentary
Krishna traces the very lineage of creation back to Himself. The seven great sages (saptarṣis), the four ancient ones (the Kumaras or the original sages), and the Manus — the progenitors of humankind — are all mānasāḥ jātāḥ, 'born of His mind,' and mad-bhāvāḥ, sharing in His divine nature.
From these mind-born beings the whole population of the world descends. The point is not merely cosmological genealogy; it is that the entire order of creation, including its noblest founders, springs from the Divine consciousness. Everything we revere as ancient, wise, and foundational is itself rooted in the one Source. To honour the great sages and forefathers is, ultimately, to honour the Lord from whom they came.
In daily life
Respect inherited wisdom while living it consciously.
Family values become stronger when seen as part of a larger sacred lineage.
Try this today
Share one meaningful teaching with someone younger.
I honor the wisdom lineage that flows from Krishna.Reflect
What wisdom lineage am I carrying forward?
Private — only you can see this
Quick check
What does ‘मद्भावाः’ mean in this verse?
The Gita on creation, in other chapters
- Verse 14.3Every living being is born from the meeting of conscious spirit and material nature — neither is the whole story alone.
- Verse 4.1The deepest truths are not invented in isolation; they are received from a living lineage and kept alive by being lived.
- Verse 18.75 · SanjayaAccess to the highest wisdom comes as a gift of grace, flowing through teacher and the Divine alike.
- Verse 3.10Giving and contributing are woven into the design of life — live as part of the great cycle of offering, and your true needs are met.
Swipe left for 10.7 · Seeing divine glory stabilizes yoga.
Questions about Bhagavad Gita 10.6
Who says Bhagavad Gita 10.6, and to whom?
Krishna speaks to Arjuna in verse 10.6, in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga (Vibhuti Yoga).
What does Bhagavad Gita 10.6 mean?
The seven ancient great sages and the four Manus were born from My mind and nature; from them the beings of the world arose. (Translation: Gita Guidance (original English rendering).)
What is the lesson of Bhagavad Gita 10.6 for daily life?
Respect inherited wisdom while living it consciously. Family values become stronger when seen as part of a larger sacred lineage.
What do the Sanskrit words in Bhagavad Gita 10.6 mean?
महर्षयः सप्त — the seven great sages; पूर्वे चत्वारः — the ancient four; मनवः तथा — and also the Manus; मद्भावाः — endowed with My nature / power; मानसाः जाताः — born of (My) mind.
Where does verse 10.6 come in the Bhagavad Gita?
It is verse 6 of 42 in Chapter 10, Vibhuti Yoga. The next verse is 10.7.