Shloka 9
सामवेद–अथर्ववेदशाखाः, पुराणसंहिता, अष्टादशपुराणानि, विद्यास्थानानि
Sāma/Atharvan branches, Purāṇa compendium, 18 Purāṇas, knowledge taxonomy
शिष्यम् अध्यापयाम् आस कबन्धं सो ऽपि तं द्विधा कृत्वा तु देवदर्शाय तथा पथ्याय दत्तवान्
śiṣyam adhyāpayām āsa kabandhaṃ so 'pi taṃ dvidhā kṛtvā tu devadarśāya tathā pathyāya dattavān
He instructed his disciple Kabandha; and Kabandha, in turn, divided that sacred teaching into two parts and handed it down—one portion to Devadarśa and the other to Pathya.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Atharva-veda transmission: Sumantu teaches Kabandha; Kabandha divides the teaching into two and gives it to Devadarśa and Pathya
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Division of śruti into parts is not fragmentation but a strategy of preservation—each recipient becomes a custodian of a complete, coherent portion.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: When learning or teaching, structure material into coherent modules while maintaining fidelity to sources and intent.
Vishishtadvaita: Embodies ‘aṃśa’ (part) serving ‘aṃśin’ (whole): plurality of recensions supports, rather than negates, the unity of revealed truth.
FAQs
It highlights paramparā—knowledge is preserved by distributing it through reliable lines of disciples, ensuring continuity and stability of dharma across generations.
By naming successive teachers and recipients, Parāśara frames sacred knowledge as something transmitted through authorized lineage rather than private invention.
Even when Vishnu is not explicitly named, the Purana treats ordered transmission of dharma and scripture as part of the divine governance of the world—Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty expressed through tradition.