Shloka 18

वैष्णवीमायावितानम्, उग्रसेनाभिषेकः, सुधर्मासभा, सांदीपनिगमनम्, पाञ्चजन्य-प्राप्तिः, गुरुदक्षिणा

Devanagari script

विदिताखिलविज्ञानौ सर्वज्ञानमयाव् अपि शिष्याचार्यक्रमं वीरौ ख्यापयन्तौ यदूत्तमौ

Transliteration

viditākhilavijñānau sarvajñānamayāv api śiṣyācāryakramaṃ vīrau khyāpayantau yadūttamau

Translation

Though they had mastered every branch of knowledge and were as embodiments of all learning, those two heroic scions—foremost among the Yadus—still made known to the world the sacred order of disciple and teacher, honoring the proper succession of instruction.

Word by Word

• विदिताखिलविज्ञानौ: who knew all sciences
• विदिताखिलविज्ञानौ: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विदित (विद् धातु + क्त) + अखिल + विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (ययोः अखिलविज्ञानं विदितं तौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वज्ञानमयौ: filled with all knowledge
• सर्वज्ञानमयौ: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञान + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्ञानमय); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• अपि: even / also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि (even/also)

• शिष्याचार्यक्रमम्: the order of pupil and teacher
• शिष्याचार्यक्रमम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य + आचार्य + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (शिष्यश्च आचार्यश्च—तयोः क्रमः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• वीरौ: the two heroes
• वीरौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

• ख्यापयन्तौ: making known / demonstrating
• ख्यापयन्तौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ख्यापय् (ख्यै/ख्या causative धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग; मुख्यक्रियासमानार्थक (present participle)

• यदूत्तमौ: the best of the Yadus
• यदूत्तमौ: Karta (Subject apposition/कर्ता-सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: यदूनाम् उत्तमौ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), द्विवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Krishna and Balarāma’s education and exemplary adherence to dharma.

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Krishna descends to model dharma through perfect conduct, including honoring the guru–śiṣya tradition despite omniscience.

Leela: Dharma-upadesa

Dharma Restored: Preservation of śāstric transmission and social-spiritual order through guru-paramparā.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Even the supremely knowledgeable uphold the guru–śiṣya order to establish dharma for the world.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Honor teachers and authentic learning lineages; practice disciplined study and humility even when competent.

Vishishtadvaita: The Lord, though complete, voluntarily adopts human norms (ācāra) to guide embodied selves—grace expressed as pedagogy within the world.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Yadu dynasty (Yādavas)
• Guru–śiṣya paramparā (teacher–disciple tradition)

FAQs

What is the significance of the guru–śiṣya order (ācārya–śiṣya-krama) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse praises exemplary Yadava heroes for upholding the disciplined teacher–disciple succession, showing that true learning is validated and preserved through proper transmission, not mere personal brilliance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of humility in learning through this verse?

By noting that even those who are ‘embodiments of all knowledge’ still honor the teacher–disciple sequence, Parāśara frames humility and adherence to tradition as marks of dharma and authentic scholarship.

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

Within the Purana’s dynastic framework, right order (krama) and dharma are expressions of Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty; preserving sacred knowledge through paramparā reflects the cosmic maintenance (sthiti) attributed to Vishnu.