Shloka 12
प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः
The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu
ततस् ते तत् पितुः श्रुत्वा वचनं नृपनन्दनाः तथेत्य् उक्त्वा च तं भूयः पप्रच्छुः पितरं मुने
tatas te tat pituḥ śrutvā vacanaṃ nṛpanandanāḥ tathety uktvā ca taṃ bhūyaḥ papracchuḥ pitaraṃ mune
Then those princely sons, having heard their father’s words, assented—“So be it”—and, O sage, once again questioned their father.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; reporting the princes’ response within the story)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Sons request further instruction after assenting to their father’s directive
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Concept: True learning joins obedience with intelligent questioning aimed at clarity of right action.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: After accepting a duty, ask precise questions to understand the means and standards for fulfilling it well.
Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is relational and transmitted through a trusted teacher-disciple structure, consistent with śāstra as a living pramāṇa.
FAQs
It highlights the Purāṇic teaching method: knowledge of dharma, lineage, and cosmic order is transmitted through respectful inquiry, ensuring clarity and continuity of tradition.
Parāśara frames the narrative as a chain of speech—someone speaks, listeners assent, and then ask further—so the genealogy and dharmic lessons unfold step by step rather than as a mere list.
Even when Vishnu is not named in a given verse, Ansha 4 situates royal lineages within Vishnu’s sustaining order—kings and their heirs are portrayed as participants in the divinely upheld framework of dharma and history.