Shloka 11
कलौ धर्मसुलभता — व्यासोपाख्यानम् एवं संकीर्तन-प्रधानता
तम् ऊचुः संशयं प्रष्टुं भवन्तं वयम् आगताः अलं तेनास्तु तावन् नः कथ्यताम् अपरं त्वया
tam ūcuḥ saṃśayaṃ praṣṭuṃ bhavantaṃ vayam āgatāḥ alaṃ tenāstu tāvan naḥ kathyatām aparaṃ tvayā
They said to him: “We have come to ask about our doubt. But enough of that for now—tell us instead something further, something else, from your own lips.”
A group of inquirers addressing a revered sage (contextually within the Vishnu Purana’s didactic dialogue frame)
Concept: संशय-निवृत्ति हेतु प्रश्न करना उचित है, परन्तु मुनि ‘अपरं’ (अधिक/पर) श्रवण की उत्कण्ठा भी व्यक्त करते हैं—ज्ञान का क्रमिक विस्तार।
Vedantic Theme: Moksha
Application: अपने मूल प्रश्नों को स्पष्ट रखिए, पर साथ ही व्यापक संदर्भ (context-building) भी माँगिए; इससे दृष्टि संकीर्ण नहीं रहती।
Vishishtadvaita: ज्ञान-प्राप्ति ‘गुरुमुखात्’ और ‘श्रवण’ पर आश्रित—ईश्वर/आचार्य पर निर्भरता (śeṣatva) का संकेत।
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse shows how inquiry begins with doubt, but the discourse can pivot to broader instruction—highlighting the Purana’s role as guided, structured revelation rather than mere debate.
By postponing one specific doubt and asking for “something further,” the verse functions as a transition device, allowing the teacher to expand into wider Kali-yuga themes and dharma-oriented counsel.
Even when Vishnu is not named in the line, the Purana’s instruction ultimately aims at aligning the listener with Vishnu-centered order (dharma) and right understanding, especially in the Kali-yuga setting.