Shloka 20
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
अहं चतुर्थ: शिष्यो वै पञ्चमश्न शुकः स्मृत: । सुमन्तु, जैमिनि, दृढ़तापूर्वक उत्तम व्रतका पालन करनेवाले पैल--इन तीनके सिवा व्यासजीका चौथा शिष्य मैं ही हूँ और पाँचवें शिष्य उनके पुत्र शुकदेव माने गये हैं ।।
ahaṃ caturthaḥ śiṣyo vai pañcamaś ca śukaḥ smṛtaḥ | sumantuḥ jaiminiḥ pailaś ca—ete trayo vinā—vyāsasya caturthaśiṣyo 'ham eva, pañcamaśiṣyaḥ punar asya putraḥ śukadevaḥ manyate || etān samāgatān sarvān pañca śiṣyān damānvitān ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「我は第四の弟子として記憶され、シュカは第五とされる。スーマントゥ、ジャイミニ、パイラ—最上の誓願を堅く守るその三人を除けば、ヴィヤーサの第四の弟子はただ我のみ、そしてその御子シュカデーヴァが第五と認められている。」そして彼は、集い来たりて自制を具えた五人の弟子すべてについて語った。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes the authority of disciplined teacher–student succession: sacred knowledge is preserved through a recognized lineage marked by vows (vrata) and self-restraint (dama), not merely by personal claim.
Vaiśaṃpāyana identifies himself within Vyāsa’s circle of disciples, naming the five principal students—Sumantu, Jaimini, Paila, himself, and Śukadeva—and notes their disciplined character as the basis for reliable transmission.