Shloka 2

Devanagari script

त्वत्तो हि वेदाध्ययनम् अधीतम् अखिलं गुरो धर्मशास्त्राणि सर्वाणि वेदाङ्गानि यथाक्रमम्

Transliteration

tvatto hi vedādhyayanam adhītam akhilaṃ guro dharmaśāstrāṇi sarvāṇi vedāṅgāni yathākramam

Translation

From you, O revered Guru, I have learned in full the study of the Vedas, along with all the Dharma-śāstras and the Vedāṅgas in their proper order.

Word by Word

• त्वत्तः: from you
• त्वत्तः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन — Pronoun, Ablative, Singular

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (हेतौ/निश्चये) — particle (indeed/for)

• वेदाध्ययनम्: study of the Veda(s)
• वेदाध्ययनम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्ययन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom./Acc. Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य अध्ययनम्)

• अधीतम्: studied/learnt
• अधीतम्: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — PPP, Neuter Nom./Acc. Singular

• अखिलम्: entire
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter Nom./Acc. Singular; विशेषणम् (वेदाध्ययनस्य)

• गुरो: O teacher
• गुरो: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular; संबोधनार्थे षष्ठी (हे गुरो)

• धर्मशास्त्राणि: treatises on dharma
• धर्मशास्त्राणि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य शास्त्राणि)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Plural; विशेषणम् (धर्मशास्त्राणाम्)

• वेदाङ्गानि: the Vedāṅgas
• वेदाङ्गानि: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वेदस्य अङ्गानि)

• यथाक्रमम्: in proper sequence
• यथाक्रमम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास, अव्यय — Indeclinable adverb (in due order)

Speaker

Maitreya (addressing Sage Parāśara)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: Having mastered Veda, Dharmaśāstra, and Vedāṅgas, he seeks the highest settled synthesis (niścaya) that unifies them

Teaching: Philosophical

Quality: revealing

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Scriptural learning culminates in a highest, settled understanding that integrates Veda, Dharma, and auxiliary sciences into one vision of ultimate reality.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Treat study as preparatory; seek a coherent, lived synthesis (worldview and practice) rather than fragmented information.

Vishishtadvaita: Implied need for a single supreme tattva that harmonizes diverse śāstras—later articulated as Nārāyaṇa as the integrative Brahman and ground of dharma.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Sage Parāśara
• Vedas
• Dharmaśāstras
• Vedāṅgas

FAQs

What is the significance of mentioning the Vedas, Dharmaśāstras, and Vedāṅgas at the start of the Vishnu Purana?

It establishes that the inquiry is grounded in complete śāstric training, so the Purāṇa’s teaching is presented as a higher synthesis—integrating dharma, cosmology, and theology rather than replacing Vedic authority.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the transition from scriptural study to deeper understanding?

Through the dialogue frame: Maitreya affirms he has learned the textual disciplines, then seeks the decisive, integrated teaching—prompting Parāśara to unfold the Purāṇic vision centered on Vishnu as the supreme principle governing creation and order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even before Vishnu is explicitly named in this verse, the setup signals a move from many branches of learning toward one ultimate ground—later articulated in the Vishnu Purana as Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty over dharma, time cycles, and creation.