Bhagavatapurana 8.14: atha caturdaśo'dhyāyaḥ

1. The King said:—During the periods of Manus, O worshipful One, how come these Manus and others, who are employed, in what work and by whom—please tell me of these.

2. The Sage said:—Manus, their sons, the Sages, and, O king, Indras, the gods, are all under the direction of the Perfect Being, the supreme Ruler.

3. Yagna and other Avataras of the Perfect Person have been mentioned, O king; directed by them Manu and others carry on the world’s work.

4. At the end of the four Yugas, the Sages by virtue of their Tapas discovered the various Vedas, lost by force of Time, from which the eternal righteous course is to be known.

5. Therefrom Manus instructed by Hari and full of earnestness understand the Dharma of four feet and certainly make him traverse the earth (propogate it) in their respective periods, O king.

6. The Protectors of the people (the sons of Manus) carry on the work of protection (through their sons and grandsons) to the end of each Manvantara in the provinces severally assigned to them, and the Gods accept their shares in the sacrificial offerings along with those that are connected with sacrificial performances.

7. Enjoying the firmly established fortune of the three worlds bestowed on him by the gracious Lord Indra protects them and sends down profuse rain.

8. In every yuga Hari appearing as the Siddha imparts Wisdom and in the person of the Rishi teaches Karma and as the master of Yoga shows the method of Yoga.

9. He carries on the work of creation in the form of Prajapati (Progenitor); destroys the rogues as King and in the form of Time of various qualities (characteristics) He also acts as the destroyer of all.

10. Though praised (spoken of) by these people who are deluded by Maya of names and forms as well as by various sastras, He is not seen.

11. The measure of the sub-divisions of this Kalpa has been described which those versed in the ancient lore say comprises fourteen Manvantaras.