Shloka 5
यजुर्वेदशाखाः, याज्ञवल्क्य–वैशम्पायनसंवादः, सूर्यस्तुतिः
Yajurveda branches and Yājñavalkya’s solar revelation
पूर्वम् एवं मुनिगणैः समयो ऽभूत् कृतो द्विज वैशम्पायन एकस् तु तं व्यतिक्रान्तवांस् तदा
pūrvam evaṃ munigaṇaiḥ samayo 'bhūt kṛto dvija vaiśampāyana ekas tu taṃ vyatikrāntavāṃs tadā
पूर्वी, हे द्विज, मुनिगणांनी असा नियम-समय ठरविला होता; पण त्या वेळी वैशंपायन एकटाच त्या कराराचा भंग करून बसला।
Sage Parāśara (narrating within the Purāṇic frame to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: The ancient covenant among sages regarding Meru-ascent, and Vaiśampāyana’s transgression of it
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: admonitory
Concept: Even eminent teachers are accountable to samaya (collective sacred covenant); violating agreed dharma brings consequences irrespective of status.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Honor communal ethical commitments and spiritual disciplines; leadership in tradition requires greater accountability, not exemption.
Vishishtadvaita: Śāstra-ordained dharma and the community of the faithful regulate practice; bhakti is upheld through obedience to the Lord’s order as preserved by the sādhus.
FAQs
It highlights that even spiritual knowledge is guarded by discipline and ethical restraint; communal vows among sages function as a dharmic safeguard for how sacred matters are handled.
By noting a prior covenant and its breach, he sets up a cause-and-effect structure where a deviation from dharma becomes the narrative hinge for subsequent events and teachings.
Even when the verse focuses on sages and vows, the Purāṇic intent is to show that dharma and order ultimately rest upon Vishnu’s sovereignty—ethical law and its consequences unfold within his cosmic governance.