Shloka 19
सामवेद–अथर्ववेदशाखाः, पुराणसंहिता, अष्टादशपुराणानि, विद्यास्थानानि
Sāma/Atharvan branches, Purāṇa compendium, 18 Purāṇas, knowledge taxonomy
चतुष्टयेनाप्य् एतेन संहितानाम् इदं मुने
catuṣṭayenāpy etena saṃhitānām idaṃ mune
O sage, by this very fourfold division the essential scheme of the Saṃhitās is set forth.
Sage Parāśara
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Summary statement: the fourfold division that outlines the saṃhitā scheme
Teaching: Historical
Quality: succinct
Concept: Right understanding depends on recognizing the underlying structure (vibhāga/krama) of a tradition’s texts.
Application: Approach large traditions by first learning their map—divisions, sources, and relationships—before debating details.
Vishishtadvaita: Affirms ordered plurality: many saṃhitās can cohere within one overarching Purāṇic intent, paralleling unity-in-diversity central to Viśiṣṭādvaita.
FAQs
It signals a structured way of presenting Purāṇic knowledge—an organizing framework that helps summarize and transmit the tradition’s contents coherently.
Parāśara is outlining a formal scheme—classifying the saṃhitās—so Maitreya can understand how the Purāṇa’s material is arranged and preserved.
Even when discussing textual structure, the Vishnu Purana’s aim is to order knowledge around dharma and liberation, ultimately oriented toward Vishnu as the supreme ground of reality and the final refuge.