Shloka 17
Puruṣottama-māhātmya
The Greatness of Puruṣottama Kṣetra
उच्चैः श्रवा यथाश्वानां कवीनामुशना यथा । मुनीनां च यथा व्यासः कुबेरो यक्षरक्षसाम् ॥ १७ ॥
uccaiḥ śravā yathāśvānāṃ kavīnāmuśanā yathā | munīnāṃ ca yathā vyāsaḥ kubero yakṣarakṣasām || 17 ||
ଯେପରି ଅଶ୍ୱମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଉଚ୍ଚୈଃଶ୍ରବା ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ, କବିମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଉଶନା (ଶୁକ୍ରାଚାର୍ଯ୍ୟ), ମୁନିମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ବ୍ୟାସ, ଏବଂ ଯକ୍ଷ-ରାକ୍ଷସମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ କୁବେର; ସେପରି ଏଠାରେ ସ୍ତୁତ ହେଉଥିବା ଜଣେ ନିଜ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରରେ ପରମ ଭାବେ ଗଣ୍ୟ।
Suta (narrating the Purana’s account; verse framed as a laudatory comparison within the Mahatmya flow)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It uses well-known “foremost among their kind” exemplars to convey spiritual superlative—teaching that true greatness is recognized by dharmic excellence and that the praised object (often a tirtha, deity, or vow in Mahatmya sections) is to be regarded as supreme in its sphere.
Bhakti literature often strengthens śraddhā through stuti: by comparing the worship-worthy focus to universally acknowledged paragons (Vyāsa, Kubera, etc.), the text encourages single-pointed reverence and confident devotion toward the praised sacred focus.
The verse reflects the vedic-puranic method of arthavāda (eulogistic reinforcement) and itihāsa-purāṇa style pedagogy—using authoritative cultural references to make a doctrinal point memorable, though it does not teach a specific Vedāṅga technique (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) directly.