12 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 1

and grandsons in his dynasty, is now describing all the property of the
universe as belonging to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Manu’s
instructions are not only for his own sons and grandsons, but for all of
human society. The word “‘man’’—or, in Sanskrit, manusya—has been
derived from the name Manu, for all the members of human society are
descendants of the original Manu. Manu is also mentioned in Bhagavad-
gita (4.1), where the Lord says:

imam vivasvate yogam
proktavan aham avyayam

vivasvan manave praha
manur iksvakave *bravit

“T instructed this imperishable science of yoga to the sun-god, Vivasvan,
and Vivasvan instructed it to Manu, the father of mankind, and Manu in
turn instructed it to Iksvaku.” Svéyambhuva Manu and Vaivasvata
Manu have similar duties. Vaivasvata Manu was born of the sun-god,
Vivasvan, and his son was Iksvaku, the King of the earth. Since Manu is
understood to be the original father of humanity, human society should
follow his instructions.

Svayambhuva Manu instructs that whatever exists, not only in the
spiritual world but even within this material world, is the property of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present everywhere as the
Superconsciousness. As confirmed in Bhagavad-gité (13.3), ksetra-jnam
capi mam viddhi sarva-ksetresu bharata: in every field—in other words,
in every body—the Supreme Lord is existing as the Supersoul. The in-
dividual soul is given a body in which to live and act according to the in-
structions of the Supreme Person, and therefore the Supreme Person
also exists within every body. We should not think that we are indepen-
dent; rather, we should understand that we are allotted a certain portion
of the total property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

This understanding will lead to perfect communism. Communists
think in terms of their own nations, but the spiritual communism in-
structed here is not only nationwide but universal. Nothing belongs to
any nation or any individual person; everything belongs to the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. That is the meaning of this verse. Atmavdsyam
idam visvam: whatever exists within this universe is the property of the
