Shloka 15
स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्
Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame
ते चोचुर् न वयं विद्मः कशेरुः पृच्छ्यताम् इति कशेरुर् अपि तेनोक्तस् तथेति प्राह भार्गवम्
te cocur na vayaṃ vidmaḥ kaśeruḥ pṛcchyatām iti kaśerur api tenoktas tatheti prāha bhārgavam
Ils répondirent : «Nous ne savons pas ; qu’on interroge Kaśeru.» Ainsi interpellé, Kaśeru répondit au Bhārgava : «Qu’il en soit ainsi», consentant à être questionné et à parler.
Sage Parāśara (narrating the episode to Maitreya; the quoted speech is by the group and by Kaśeru addressing a Bhārgava)
FAQs
The verse shows a common Purāṇic narrative device: when a point of lineage or identity is uncertain, the account turns to the most authoritative witness (Kaśeru) to preserve genealogical accuracy.
Parāśara reports a chain of speech—others defer (“we do not know”), then the named figure (Kaśeru) agrees to speak to the Bhārgava—keeping the genealogy grounded in testimony rather than mere assertion.
Even in seemingly historical or genealogical passages, the Vishnu Purana’s method supports dharmic order and cosmic sovereignty: accurate lineage and rightful authority ultimately function within Vishnu’s overarching governance of time, kingship, and tradition.