Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 6
Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa
Daśa-lakṣaṇam
अधीयन्त व्यासशिष्यात् संहितां मत्पितुर्मुखात् । एकैकामहमेतेषां शिष्य: सर्वा: समध्यगाम् ॥ ६ ॥
adhīyanta vyāsa-śiṣyāt saṁhitāṁ mat-pitur mukhāt ekaikām aham eteṣāṁ śiṣyaḥ sarvāḥ samadhyagām
Jeder von ihnen studierte eine der sechs Purāṇa-Saṁhitās aus dem Mund meines Vaters Romaharṣaṇa, eines Schülers von Śrīla Vyāsadeva. Ich wurde der Schüler dieser sechs Autoritäten und erlernte gründlich all ihre Darlegungen purāṇischer Weisheit.
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that the Bhāgavatam-saṁhitā was learned through an authentic chain—heard from the mouth of a disciple of Vyāsa—and that Sūta Gosvāmī carefully learned all available recensions by studying under each teacher.
He is establishing the reliability and completeness of his learning—he studied each recension one by one as a disciple, indicating careful preservation and faithful transmission of the text.
It teaches the value of learning sacred wisdom through genuine guidance—hearing, studying, and verifying teachings within an authentic tradition rather than relying only on isolated or self-made interpretations.