Shloka 16
स्वाध्याय-योगोपदेशः तथा केशिध्वज-खाण्डिक्य-उपाख्यानम्
Yoga through Study and Restraint; The Keśidhvaja–Khāṇḍikya Narrative Frame
शुनकं पृच्छ राजेन्द्र नाहं वेद्मि स वेत्स्यति स गत्वा तम् अपृच्छच् च सो ऽप्य् आह शृणु यन् मुने
śunakaṃ pṛccha rājendra nāhaṃ vedmi sa vetsyati sa gatvā tam apṛcchac ca so 'py āha śṛṇu yan mune
“ହେ ରାଜେନ୍ଦ୍ର, ଶୁନକଙ୍କୁ ପଚାର; ମୁଁ ଜାଣେନି—ସେ ଜାଣିବେ।” ସେ ଯାଇ ତାଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିଲା; ସେ ମଧ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—“ହେ ମୁନି, ଯାହା କହିବି ଶୁଣ।”
Sage Parāśara (narrating a chain of inquiry within the genealogy/royal narrative) to Maitreya
FAQs
This verse shows the Purāṇic model of authority: difficult points in lineage and dharma are validated through renowned sages like Śunaka, preserving reliable transmission of royal history.
He frames genealogy as received tradition—knowledge may pass from a king to a sage (or vice versa), and the narrative explicitly marks this relay: “I do not know; ask him; he will tell.”
Even in seemingly historical genealogy, the Vishnu Purana presents ordered succession and preserved memory as part of Viṣṇu’s sustaining power—dharma and kingship endure through right transmission.