Shloka 12
प्रचेतसां तपः तथा विष्णु-स्तुतिः
The Pracetases’ Ocean Tapas and Hymn to Vishnu
ततस् ते तत् पितुः श्रुत्वा वचनं नृपनन्दनाः तथेत्य् उक्त्वा च तं भूयः पप्रच्छुः पितरं मुने
tatas te tat pituḥ śrutvā vacanaṃ nṛpanandanāḥ tathety uktvā ca taṃ bhūyaḥ papracchuḥ pitaraṃ mune
Então aqueles filhos principescos, ao ouvirem as palavras do pai, assentiram: “Assim seja”; e, ó sábio, tornaram a perguntar ao pai.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya; reporting the princes’ response within the story)
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: Sons request further instruction after assenting to their father’s directive
Teaching: Historical
Quality: revealing
Concept: True learning joins obedience with intelligent questioning aimed at clarity of right action.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma
Application: After accepting a duty, ask precise questions to understand the means and standards for fulfilling it well.
Vishishtadvaita: Knowledge is relational and transmitted through a trusted teacher-disciple structure, consistent with śāstra as a living pramāṇa.
FAQs
It highlights the Purāṇic teaching method: knowledge of dharma, lineage, and cosmic order is transmitted through respectful inquiry, ensuring clarity and continuity of tradition.
Parāśara frames the narrative as a chain of speech—someone speaks, listeners assent, and then ask further—so the genealogy and dharmic lessons unfold step by step rather than as a mere list.
Even when Vishnu is not named in a given verse, Ansha 4 situates royal lineages within Vishnu’s sustaining order—kings and their heirs are portrayed as participants in the divinely upheld framework of dharma and history.