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

Sūta yang masyhur bernama Romaharṣaṇa menjadi murid Vyāsa; mahāmuni Vyāsa menyerahkan kepadanya himpunan Purāṇa, agar ingatan suci tentang dharma, para raja, zaman-yuga, dan titah Tuhan Yang Maha Tinggi Viṣṇu terus diwariskan sepanjang masa.

Word by Word

प्रख्यातःwell-known, renowned

व्यासशिष्यःdisciple of Vyāsa

अभूत्was, became

सूतःSūta (the narrator/bard)

वैindeed

रोमहर्षणःRomaharṣaṇa

पुराणसंहिताम्the Purāṇa compilation/collection

तस्मैto him

ददौgave

व्यासःVyāsa

महामुनिःthe great sage

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.