Shloka 18

Puṣkara Invocation, the Dharma-Wheel at Naimiṣa, and the Padma Purāṇa Prologue

Devanagari script

तस्मिन्सत्रे कुलपतिस्सर्वशास्त्राविशारदः । शौनको नाम मेधावी विज्ञानारण्यके गुरुः

Transliteration

tasminsatre kulapatissarvaśāstrāviśāradaḥ | śaunako nāma medhāvī vijñānāraṇyake guruḥ

Translation

Naquela sessão sacrificial, o sábio que presidia—versado em todos os śāstras—era o prudente Śaunaka, mestre venerado da assembleia em Vijñānāraṇya.

Word by Word

• तस्मिन्: in that
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सत्रे: at the sacrificial session (sattra)
• सत्रे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कुलपतिः: the head of the lineage/householder-chief
• कुलपतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुलपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कुलस्य पतिः)

• सर्वशास्त्राविशारदः: skilled in all scriptures
• सर्वशास्त्राविशारदः: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + शास्त्र + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिवत्-प्रयोगे विशेषणम्; समासः: सर्वेषु शास्त्रेषु विशारदः (सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष-समर्थ)

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (Apposition marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक-अव्यय (indeclinable meaning 'by name')

• मेधावी: intelligent
• मेधावी: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेधाविन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying 'शौनकः')

• विज्ञानारण्यके: in the Vijñānāraṇyaka (text/forest of knowledge)
• विज्ञानारण्यके: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान + अरण्यक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विज्ञानस्य अरण्यकम्)

• गुरुः: teacher
• गुरुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic narrator introducing the setting and Śaunaka)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: forest

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्मिन्सत्रे = तस्मिन् + सत्रे; कुलपतिस्सर्व... = कुलपतिः + सर्व...; सर्वशास्त्राविशारदः = सर्वशास्त्र + अविशारदः (a- privative) → 'सर्वशास्त्र-विशारदः' intended; विज्ञानारण्यके = विज्ञान + अरण्यके.

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Vijñānāraṇya

FAQs

Who is Śaunaka as described in this verse?

Śaunaka is presented as the kulapati (presiding sage) of the sacrificial session and as sarvaśāstra-viśārada, an expert in all śāstras—indicating both leadership and scriptural mastery.

What is a satra in the context of Purāṇic literature?

A satra is an extended sacrificial session (yajña) typically conducted by a community of sages, often serving as the narrative frame where teachings are recited and transmitted.

What is the ethical or spiritual emphasis of calling a leader 'sarvaśāstrāviśārada'?

It highlights the ideal that spiritual leadership should be grounded in deep learning and discernment—authority arising from knowledge, discipline, and the ability to guide others through śāstric wisdom.