Shloka 18
वेदव्यासः, चातुर्होत्रम्, ऋग्वेदशाखाः
Vyāsa’s Veda-division and Ṛgveda lineages
बौध्याग्निमाठरौ तद्वद् याज्ञवल्क्यपराशरौ प्रतिशाखास् तु शाखायास् तस्यास् ते जगृहुर् मुने
baudhyāgnimāṭharau tadvad yājñavalkyaparāśarau pratiśākhās tu śākhāyās tasyās te jagṛhur mune
ഹേ മുനേ! അതുപോലെ ബൗധ്യ, അഗ്നി, മാഠര, കൂടാതെ യാജ്ഞവൽക്ക്യനും പരാശരനും ആ ശാഖയുടെ പ്രതിശാഖകളായി അതിന്റെ പരമ്പര സ്വീകരിച്ചു।
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Enumeration of the subsidiary branches (pratiśākhā) arising from a Vedic śākhā and their custodians
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Concept: Distinct śākhā-lines can coexist as legitimate custodians of one śruti stream when preserved with fidelity and discipline.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Respect authentic lineages and methods of learning; value plurality within fidelity to the source.
Vishishtadvaita: Underscores that access to Brahman-knowledge is mediated by reliable śruti lineages (pramāṇa preserved through communities).
FAQs
This verse highlights how a single Vedic śākhā diversifies into multiple pratiśākhās, ensuring preservation, specialization, and continuity of Vedic learning through distinct teacher-lineages.
Parāśara frames Vedic continuity as a lineage-based reception—specific sages ‘take up’ the teaching and become recognized transmitters, showing knowledge as living tradition rather than merely a text.
Even when Vishnu is not named, the Purana presents the Vedic order (śākhā-lineages and dharma) as part of the cosmos sustained by the Supreme Reality—Vishnu—whose sovereignty upholds right transmission and sacred law.