Shloka 12
साधु मैत्रेय धर्मज्ञ स्मारितो ऽस्मि पुरातनम् पितुः पिता मे भगवान् वसिष्ठो यद् उवाच ह
sādhu maitreya dharmajña smārito 'smi purātanam pituḥ pitā me bhagavān vasiṣṭho yad uvāca ha
Well spoken, Maitreya, knower of dharma—you have made me recall the ancient teaching, the very words once spoken by the venerable Vasiṣṭha, my father’s father.
Sage Parāśara
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Affirmation of Maitreya’s request and introduction of an ancient teaching received through Vasiṣṭha
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative, lineage-grounded, स्मृति/पुरातन-प्रमाण based
Concept: Sacred knowledge is preserved and authenticated through reliable lineage (paramparā) and remembrance of ancient instruction.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Prefer teachings rooted in tested traditions and living lineages; cultivate śraddhā and careful transmission in study.
Vishishtadvaita: Frames revelation as personally transmitted grace within a lineage, aligning with Śrī-Vaiṣṇava stress on sampradāya and pramāṇa.
Dharma Exemplar: guru-paramparā fidelity
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse anchors the teaching in an ancient, authoritative lineage—Vasiṣṭha to Parāśara to Maitreya—presenting the Purāṇa as preserved wisdom rather than a new invention.
He states that Maitreya’s question has prompted him to recall what his grandfather, the revered Vasiṣṭha, taught—implying that his exposition follows a received tradition.
Although Vishnu is not named in this verse, the prologue establishes a reliable transmission framework for the forthcoming doctrine where Vishnu is presented as the supreme principle governing cosmic order and creation.