Shloka 11
सामवेद–अथर्ववेदशाखाः, पुराणसंहिता, अष्टादशपुराणानि, विद्यास्थानानि
Sāma/Atharvan branches, Purāṇa compendium, 18 Purāṇas, knowledge taxonomy
पथ्यस्यापि त्रयः शिष्याः कृता यैर् द्विज संहिताः जाजलिः कुमुदादिश् च तृतीयः शौनको द्विज
pathyasyāpi trayaḥ śiṣyāḥ kṛtā yair dvija saṃhitāḥ jājaliḥ kumudādiś ca tṛtīyaḥ śaunako dvija
O Brahmin, Pathya too had three disciples, by whom the Brahminical Saṃhitās were composed—Jājali, Kumudādi, and as the third, the twice-born Śaunaka.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Transmission and subdivision of Vedic/Atharvanic saṃhitās through disciplic lineages.
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Śāstra is safeguarded through disciplined guru-śiṣya transmission and careful compilation of authoritative recensions.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Seek teachings through reliable lineages, preserve sources faithfully, and study with attention to textual integrity.
Vishishtadvaita: Revelation (śruti-smṛti) is a trustworthy pramāṇa when preserved in living tradition, supporting devotion and right knowledge of the Supreme.
Key Kings: Pathya, Jājali, Kumudādi, Śaunaka
FAQs
This verse highlights that sacred knowledge is preserved through named teacher–disciple lineages, where disciples actively compile and stabilize saṃhitās, ensuring continuity of dharma across ages.
Parāśara presents saṃhitā formation as the work of specific disciples—here, Jājali, Kumudādi, and Śaunaka—indicating that authoritative textual corpora arise through entrusted transmission and compilation.
In the Vishnu Purana’s worldview, orderly transmission of sacred tradition is part of cosmic governance; the stability of dharma and knowledge ultimately reflects Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty over the world-order.