Shloka 16
सामवेद–अथर्ववेदशाखाः, पुराणसंहिता, अष्टादशपुराणानि, विद्यास्थानानि
Sāma/Atharvan branches, Purāṇa compendium, 18 Purāṇas, knowledge taxonomy
प्रख्यातो व्यासशिष्यो ऽभूत् सूतो वै रोमहर्षणः पुराणसंहितां तस्मै ददौ व्यासो महामुनिः
prakhyāto vyāsaśiṣyo 'bhūt sūto vai romaharṣaṇaḥ purāṇasaṃhitāṃ tasmai dadau vyāso mahāmuniḥ
The famed Sūta Romaharṣaṇa became a disciple of Vyāsa; and the great sage Vyāsa entrusted to him the Purāṇic compendium, so that the sacred remembrance of dharma, kings, ages, and the ordinance of the Supreme Lord Viṣṇu might endure through time.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Transmission and custodianship of Purāṇic tradition (saṃhitā) from Vyāsa to Romaharṣaṇa
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Dharma is preserved across ages by disciplined transmission of śāstra through qualified teachers and disciples.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Seek teachings through reliable lineages, study consistently, and transmit what you learn with fidelity and humility.
Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme Lord’s ordinance (niyati) is remembered and taught through śāstra, linking divine governance with historical tradition.
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse presents Romaharṣaṇa as Vyāsa’s famed disciple who receives the Purāṇasaṃhitā, establishing him as a key transmitter of Purāṇic knowledge through the Sūta tradition.
By grounding the text in a recognized guru-disciple succession—Vyāsa entrusting the Purāṇic compendium to a qualified disciple—Parāśara signals continuity, preservation, and legitimacy of the tradition.
Even when the verse focuses on transmission, the underlying Purāṇic purpose is to preserve the narrative of dharma and cosmic order ultimately rooted in Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty across ages and lineages.