Shloka 16

सामवेद–अथर्ववेदशाखाः, पुराणसंहिता, अष्टादशपुराणानि, विद्यास्थानानि

Sāma/Atharvan branches, Purāṇa compendium, 18 Purāṇas, knowledge taxonomy

Devanagari script

प्रख्यातो व्यासशिष्यो ऽभूत् सूतो वै रोमहर्षणः पुराणसंहितां तस्मै ददौ व्यासो महामुनिः

Transliteration

prakhyāto vyāsaśiṣyo 'bhūt sūto vai romaharṣaṇaḥ purāṇasaṃhitāṃ tasmai dadau vyāso mahāmuniḥ

Translation

名高いスータであるローマハルシャナはヴィヤーサの弟子となり、偉大なる聖者ヴィヤーサは彼にプラーナの集成（サンヒター）を託した。かくして、ダルマと諸王と諸ユガ、そして至上主ヴィシュヌの聖なる命令の記憶が時の流れに保たれるためである。

Word by Word

• प्रख्यातः: well-known, renowned
• प्रख्यातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्यै (धातु) + प्र- उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त) — past passive participle used adjectivally

• व्यासशिष्यः: disciple of Vyāsa
• व्यासशिष्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास-शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्यासस्य शिष्यः)

• अभूत्: was, became
• अभूत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सूतः: Sūta (the narrator/bard)
• सूतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Discourse particle
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis/indeed

• रोमहर्षणः: Romaharṣaṇa
• रोमहर्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (proper name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोमहर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• पुराणसंहिताम्: the Purāṇa compilation/collection
• पुराणसंहिताम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण-संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुराणानां संहिता)

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• व्यासः: Vyāsa
• व्यासः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महामुनिः: the great sage
• महामुनिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता) (apposition to Vyāsa)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् मुनिः)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Transmission and custodianship of Purāṇic tradition (saṃhitā) from Vyāsa to Romaharṣaṇa

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is preserved across ages by disciplined transmission of śāstra through qualified teachers and disciples.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Seek teachings through reliable lineages, study consistently, and transmit what you learn with fidelity and humility.

Vishishtadvaita: The Supreme Lord’s ordinance (niyati) is remembered and taught through śāstra, linking divine governance with historical tradition.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vyāsa
• Romaharṣaṇa (Lomaharṣaṇa)
• Sūta
• Purāṇasaṃhitā

FAQs

What is the significance of Romaharṣaṇa in the Vishnu Purana tradition?

This verse presents Romaharṣaṇa as Vyāsa’s famed disciple who receives the Purāṇasaṃhitā, establishing him as a key transmitter of Purāṇic knowledge through the Sūta tradition.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the authority of the Purāṇas here?

By grounding the text in a recognized guru-disciple succession—Vyāsa entrusting the Purāṇic compendium to a qualified disciple—Parāśara signals continuity, preservation, and legitimacy of the tradition.

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

Even when the verse focuses on transmission, the underlying Purāṇic purpose is to preserve the narrative of dharma and cosmic order ultimately rooted in Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty across ages and lineages.