Shloka 16
स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्
Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame
शुनकं पृच्छ राजेन्द्र नाहं वेद्मि स वेत्स्यति स गत्वा तम् अपृच्छच् च सो ऽप्य् आह शृणु यन् मुने
śunakaṃ pṛccha rājendra nāhaṃ vedmi sa vetsyati sa gatvā tam apṛcchac ca so 'py āha śṛṇu yan mune
«اسأل شونَكَ، يا سيد الملوك؛ فإني لا أعلم—هو سيعلم.» فمضى إليه وسأله، فقال هو أيضًا: «اسمع يا أيها الحكيم ما سأقوله.»
Sage Parāśara (narrating a chain of inquiry within the genealogy/royal narrative) to Maitreya
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Escalation to the true knower (Śunaka) for prāyaścitta determination.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: True knowledge of dharma may reside with a specific competent seer; one must persist until the right authority is reached.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Don’t stop at partial answers; continue inquiry with patience until clarity is obtained from reliable expertise.
Vishishtadvaita: Persistence in right inquiry (jijñāsā) is a devotional discipline when oriented toward aligning with the Lord’s dharma.
Dharma Exemplar: Viveka (discerning the proper authority)
Key Kings: Śunaka, Kaśeru, Bhārgava (king)
FAQs
This verse shows the Purāṇic model of authority: difficult points in lineage and dharma are validated through renowned sages like Śunaka, preserving reliable transmission of royal history.
He frames genealogy as received tradition—knowledge may pass from a king to a sage (or vice versa), and the narrative explicitly marks this relay: “I do not know; ask him; he will tell.”
Even in seemingly historical genealogy, the Vishnu Purana presents ordered succession and preserved memory as part of Viṣṇu’s sustaining power—dharma and kingship endure through right transmission.