Shloka 12

Devanagari script

शौनकस् तु द्विधा कृत्वा ददाव् एकां तु बभ्रवे द्वितीयां संहितां प्रादात् सैन्धवाय च संज्ञिने

Transliteration

śaunakas tu dvidhā kṛtvā dadāv ekāṃ tu babhrave dvitīyāṃ saṃhitāṃ prādāt saindhavāya ca saṃjñine

Translation

Śaunaka, having divided it into two, gave one recension to Babhrava; and the second Saṃhitā he bestowed upon Saindhava, who was also known by the name Saṃjñin.

Word by Word

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• द्विधा: in two parts
• द्विधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्विधा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — ‘in two ways’

• कृत्वा: having divided/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having done/made’

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• एकाम्: one (portion)
• एकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन — ‘one’ (qualifying संहिताम् understood)

• तु: and/indeed
• तु: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• बभ्रवे: to Babhrū
• बभ्रवे: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बभ्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन — ‘to Babhrū’

• द्वितीयाम्: the second
• द्वितीयाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — क्रमवाचक विशेषण

• संहिताम्: recension/collection
• संहिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रादात्: gave
• प्रादात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + प्र (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सैन्धवाय: to Saindhava
• सैन्धवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन — ‘to Saindhava’

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Conjunction/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• संज्ञिने: to Saṃjñin
• संज्ञिने: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संज्ञिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन — ‘to Saṃjñin’

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: How Atharvanic/Purāṇic saṃhitās were divided and handed down through named teachers.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śāstra is preserved by deliberate organization (dvidhā-karaṇa) and responsible entrustment to qualified recipients.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Organize one’s learning systematically, verify sources, and pass knowledge onward with fidelity and discernment.

Vishishtadvaita: Scriptural order safeguards right devotion to Bhagavān; the means (śāstra) remains stable while accessible through authorized channels.

Dynasty & Genealogy

Key Kings: Śaunaka, Babhrava, Saindhava, Saṃjñin

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Babhrava
• Saindhava
• Saṃjñin

FAQs

What is the significance of dividing a Saṃhitā in the Vishnu Purana?

It highlights how sacred knowledge is preserved through structured recensions, ensuring continuity and accuracy across lineages of teachers and disciples.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the continuity of tradition here?

By naming specific transmitters—Śaunaka and his recipients—Parāśara grounds the Purāṇic account in an explicit chain of custody (guru-paramparā).

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

Even in genealogical or textual-history passages, the Vishnu Purana frames ordered transmission of dharma-knowledge as part of the cosmic stability ultimately upheld by Vishnu as the Supreme sustaining principle.