Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
वैशम्पायन उवाच इत्युक्तास्तु वयं तेन वेदव्यासेन धीमता । सर्वे शिष्या: सुतश्नास्य शुक: परमधर्मवित्
vaiśampāyana uvāca | ity uktās tu vayaṃ tena vedavyāsena dhīmatā | sarve śiṣyāḥ sutaś ca asya śukaḥ paramadharmavit ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: “Assim fomos instruídos por aquele sábio Vedavyāsa — todos nós, seus discípulos, e também seu próprio filho Śuka, conhecedor do dharma supremo.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse emphasizes that dharma-teachings gain weight through an authentic lineage: a wise teacher (Vyāsa) instructs disciplined disciples, including Śuka who is described as a knower of the highest dharma. Ethical guidance is presented as transmitted wisdom, safeguarded by teacher-student continuity.
Vaiśampāyana, while narrating to the listener (contextually Janamejaya), states that Vyāsa gave a particular instruction to all his disciples and to his son Śuka. It functions as a narrative bridge, establishing who received the teaching and why it is authoritative.