Shloka 14
सामवेद–अथर्ववेदशाखाः, पुराणसंहिता, अष्टादशपुराणानि, विद्यास्थानानि
Sāma/Atharvan branches, Purāṇa compendium, 18 Purāṇas, knowledge taxonomy
चतुर्थः स्याद् आङ्गिरसः शान्तिकल्पश् च पञ्चमः श्रेष्ठास् त्व् अथर्वणाम् एते संहितानां विकल्पकाः
caturthaḥ syād āṅgirasaḥ śāntikalpaś ca pañcamaḥ śreṣṭhās tv atharvaṇām ete saṃhitānāṃ vikalpakāḥ
Четвёртая редакция называется Ангирса; пятая — Шантикалпа. Таковы выдающиеся традиции атхарванов — различные устроения самхит.
Sage Parāśara (in dialogue with Maitreya)
FAQs
It presents the Purāṇic view of how Vedic knowledge is safeguarded through multiple authoritative branches (śākhās), ensuring continuity of mantra and ritual application.
He uses vikalpa to indicate recognized variant arrangements or recensional forms—parallel lineages of transmission—rather than contradiction, emphasizing preservation through structured diversity.
Even while discussing Vedic branches, the Purāṇa’s frame treats Veda and dharma as upheld within Vishnu’s sovereignty—sacred knowledge functions as an instrument of cosmic order ultimately grounded in the Supreme Reality.