Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 6
Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa
Daśa-lakṣaṇam
अधीयन्त व्यासशिष्यात् संहितां मत्पितुर्मुखात् । एकैकामहमेतेषां शिष्य: सर्वा: समध्यगाम् ॥ ६ ॥
adhīyanta vyāsa-śiṣyāt saṁhitāṁ mat-pitur mukhāt ekaikām aham eteṣāṁ śiṣyaḥ sarvāḥ samadhyagām
Chacun d’eux étudia l’une des six saṁhitā des Purāṇa de la bouche de mon père, Romaharṣaṇa, disciple de Śrīla Vyāsadeva. Devenu le disciple de ces six autorités, j’appris parfaitement toutes leurs expositions de la sagesse purāṇique.
FAQs
This verse emphasizes that the Bhāgavatam-saṁhitā was learned through an authentic chain—heard from the mouth of a disciple of Vyāsa—and that Sūta Gosvāmī carefully learned all available recensions by studying under each teacher.
He is establishing the reliability and completeness of his learning—he studied each recension one by one as a disciple, indicating careful preservation and faithful transmission of the text.
It teaches the value of learning sacred wisdom through genuine guidance—hearing, studying, and verifying teachings within an authentic tradition rather than relying only on isolated or self-made interpretations.