Shloka 2

वेदव्यास-परम्परा तथा प्रणव-ब्रह्म-स्तुति

Devanagari script

एतत् तु श्रोतुम् इच्छामि व्यस्ता वेदा महात्मना वेदव्यासस्वरूपेण यथा तेन युगे युगे

Transliteration

etat tu śrotum icchāmi vyastā vedā mahātmanā vedavyāsasvarūpeṇa yathā tena yuge yuge

Translation

This I desire to hear: how, age after age, that great-souled one—assuming the form and office of Vedavyāsa—sets the Vedas in order and divides them again and again in every yuga.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन (Singular)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + तुमुन् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: तुमुनन्त (infinitive); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable infinitive)

• इच्छामि: I wish, I desire
• इच्छामि: Kriya (Predicate verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• व्यस्ताः: arranged, divided
• व्यस्ताः: Karta (Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+अस् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय) / व्यस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (qualifier of वेदाः)

• वेदाः: the Vedas
• वेदाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); बहुवचन (Plural)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one
• महात्मना: Karana (Agent/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन (Singular)

• वेदव्यासस्वरूपेण: in the form of Vedavyasa
• वेदव्यासस्वरूपेण: Karana (Means/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन (Singular); समासः: (वेदव्यासस्य स्वरूपम्) षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; तृतीयान्तेन साधन/प्रकारः

• यथा: as, how
• यथा: Sambandha (Clause linker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (as, in the way)

• तेन: by him, by that
• तेन: Karana (Agent/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental); एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम

• युगे: in an age
• युगे: Adhikarana (Time locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन (Singular)

• युगे: in each age
• युगे: Adhikarana (Time locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन (Singular); पुनरुक्ति (idiom: 'age after age')

Speaker

Maitreya (disciple) addressing Sage Parāśara

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Maitreya

Topic: How the Mahātman repeatedly assumes the role of Vedavyāsa to arrange and divide the Vedas in every yuga

Teaching: Historical

Quality: inquiring

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vedic knowledge is periodically systematized for the welfare of beings as dharma declines in successive yugas.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat scripture-study as a living discipline: learn systematically, seek qualified teachers, and adapt practice to one’s capacity without diluting principles.

Vishishtadvaita: Shows the Lord’s compassionate governance: transcendent yet actively guiding history through authorized teachers/manifestations for the soul’s uplift.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Vedavyasa
• Vedas
• Yuga cycle

FAQs

What is the significance of Vedavyāsa dividing the Vedas in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames the Veda’s division as a recurring act across ages, ensuring sacred knowledge remains accessible and ordered as yugas change.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the recurring Vyāsa role across yugas?

Maitreya’s question sets up Parāśara’s explanation that the ‘Vyāsa’ is a recurring function—assumed by a great sage—through which the Vedas are reorganized age after age.

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

Even when not named in the verse, the Purāṇic frame treats cosmic order and right transmission of revelation as upheld under Vishnu’s sovereignty, with Vyāsa functioning within that divine governance.