Shloka 136

Pracetās, Māriṣā, Dakṣa’s Re-manifestation, and the Brahma-parastava; Cyclic Creation and Genealogies

Devanagari script

प्रत्यङ्गिरसजाः श्रेष्ठा ऋचो ब्रह्मर्षिसत्कृताः

Transliteration

pratyaṅgirasajāḥ śreṣṭhā ṛco brahmarṣisatkṛtāḥ

Translation

The finest Ṛk-hymns, born of the Angiras lineage, are those revered and upheld by the Brahmarṣis.

Word by Word

• प्रत्यङ्गिरसजाः: born from/related to (Prati-)Aṅgiras
• प्रत्यङ्गिरसजाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-अङ्गिरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √जन्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (अङ्गिरसः प्रति/अङ्गिरस-सम्बन्धात् जाताः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ऋचः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• श्रेष्ठाः: excellent
• श्रेष्ठाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ऋचः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• ऋचः: Ṛc-verses (hymns)
• ऋचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मर्षिसत्कृताः: honored by Brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्मर्षिसत्कृताः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √कृ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (ब्रह्मर्षिभिः सत्कृताः), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ऋचः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in discourse to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Praise and classification of Vedic hymns and the sanctity of Brahmarṣis preserving them

Teaching: Devotional

Quality: reverent

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The Ṛk-hymns, honored by Brahmarṣis, are a supreme means of preserving and transmitting sacred knowledge that orients beings toward the highest reality.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Maintain a daily discipline of śravaṇa/manana—study, chant, and reflect on sacred texts with humility and guidance from authentic teachers.

Vishishtadvaita: Veda is a valid, divinely grounded pramāṇa revealing the supreme Lord; the Brahmarṣis serve as His authorized transmitters within the world-order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Angiras
• Brahmarshis
• Rigvedic hymns (Rik/Ṛc)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Angiras lineage in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights Angiras-associated hymns as especially eminent, pointing to rishi-lineage transmission as a key marker of Vedic continuity and authority.

How does Sage Parāśara explain scriptural authority in this context?

By stating that the best hymns are those 'honored by the Brahmarṣis,' Parāśara frames legitimacy through recognition by the highest seer-sages within the Vedic tradition.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana’s framework treats Vedic order and its preservation as part of Vishnu’s sovereign maintenance of dharma across cosmic cycles.