Shloka 41
Sanatsujāta–Dhṛtarāṣṭra Saṃvāda: Pramāda as Mṛtyu
Chapter 42
धृतराष्ट उवाच आख्यानपज्चमैवेंदिर्भूयिष्ठं कथ्यते जन: । तथा चान्ये चतुर्वेदास्त्रिवेदाश्व॒ तथा परे
dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca—ākhyāna-pañcamaiḥ eva indaiḥ bhūyiṣṭhaṃ kathyate janaḥ | tathā ca anye caturvedāḥ trivedāś ca tathā pare ||
धृतराष्ट्र म्हणाला— मुने! आख्यान (इतिहास-पुराण) याला पाचवे मानून वेदांसह ज्यांना ‘पंचवेदी’ म्हणतात, असे लोक विशेष प्रसिद्ध आहेत; तसेच काही ‘चतुर्वेदी’ आणि काही ‘त्रिवेदी’ असेही म्हटले जाते.
धृतराष्ट उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how scriptural learning was socially recognized in graded forms (three-, four-, and ‘five’-Veda learning), and it implicitly affirms the cultural authority of Itihāsa–Purāṇa as a major vehicle for transmitting dharma and sacred knowledge alongside the Vedas.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra questions the sage about a common designation among people: some are called ‘pañcavedī’ because Itihāsa–Purāṇa is treated as a fifth category of sacred learning, while others are known as ‘caturvedī’ or ‘trivedī’ depending on the extent of their Vedic mastery.