Shloka 12
मैत्रेयप्रश्नः—पुराणसंहिताप्रतिज्ञा च
Maitreya’s Questions and Parāśara’s Resolve to Teach
साधु मैत्रेय धर्मज्ञ स्मारितो ऽस्मि पुरातनम् पितुः पिता मे भगवान् वसिष्ठो यद् उवाच ह
sādhu maitreya dharmajña smārito 'smi purātanam pituḥ pitā me bhagavān vasiṣṭho yad uvāca ha
ସାଧୁ, ହେ ଧର୍ମଜ୍ଞ ମୈତ୍ରେୟ—ତୁମେ ମୋତେ ପୁରାତନ ଉପଦେଶ ସ୍ମରଣ କରାଇଲ; ସେଇ ମୋ ପିତାମହ ଭଗବାନ୍ ବସିଷ୍ଠ ପୂର୍ବେ କହିଥିଲେ।
Sage Parāśara
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Affirmation of Maitreya’s request and introduction of an ancient teaching received through Vasiṣṭha
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative, lineage-grounded, स्मृति/पुरातन-प्रमाण based
Concept: Sacred knowledge is preserved and authenticated through reliable lineage (paramparā) and remembrance of ancient instruction.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: Prefer teachings rooted in tested traditions and living lineages; cultivate śraddhā and careful transmission in study.
Vishishtadvaita: Frames revelation as personally transmitted grace within a lineage, aligning with Śrī-Vaiṣṇava stress on sampradāya and pramāṇa.
Dharma Exemplar: guru-paramparā fidelity
Bhakti Type: Shanta
FAQs
This verse anchors the teaching in an ancient, authoritative lineage—Vasiṣṭha to Parāśara to Maitreya—presenting the Purāṇa as preserved wisdom rather than a new invention.
He states that Maitreya’s question has prompted him to recall what his grandfather, the revered Vasiṣṭha, taught—implying that his exposition follows a received tradition.
Although Vishnu is not named in this verse, the prologue establishes a reliable transmission framework for the forthcoming doctrine where Vishnu is presented as the supreme principle governing cosmic order and creation.