Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 27
Chapter 150 — Manvantarāṇi (The Manvantaras) and the Purāṇic Map of Vedic Transmission
यजुर्वेदतरोः शाखाः सप्तविंशन्महामतिः वैशम्पायननामासौ व्यासशिष्यश् चकार वै
yajurvedataroḥ śākhāḥ saptaviṃśanmahāmatiḥ vaiśampāyananāmāsau vyāsaśiṣyaś cakāra vai
వ్యాసుని శిష్యుడైన మహాత్మ వైశంపాయనుడు యజుర్వేద వృక్షానికి ఇరవైఏడు శాఖలను నిశ్చయంగా స్థాపించాడు।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vyakarana","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Mapping Vedic śākhā-lineages for correct śruti recitation, ritual adherence, and guru-śiṣya transmission authentication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Yajurveda-Śākhāsaṅkhyā and Vaiśampāyana’s Recensions","lookup_keywords":["Yajurveda","śākhā","Vaiśampāyana","Vyāsa-śiṣya","saptaviṃśati"],"quick_summary":"Attributes the organization of Yajurveda recensions to Vaiśampāyana, stating a canonical count of twenty-seven śākhās; useful for paramparā and śruti-adhyayan classification."}
Concept: Śruti is preserved through structured recensional branching (śākhā) under authoritative teachers.
Application: Use śākhā-identity to determine correct saṃhitā/pāṭha, prayoga, and ritual variants in Vedic practice.
Khanda Section: Veda-Shakha-Vyavastha (Vedic Recensional Traditions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vyāsa’s disciple Vaiśampāyana seated as an ācārya, with palm-leaf manuscripts and students arranged in groups symbolizing twenty-seven Yajurveda branches, depicted as a flourishing tree with labeled limbs.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, Vaiśampāyana as serene guru under a stylized Veda-tree with 27 branching limbs, rows of brahmacārins holding palm-leaf granthas, traditional ornaments, flat iconic composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Vaiśampāyana enthroned with halo, gold-leaf highlights on manuscripts and the Veda-tree canopy, 27 small branch medallions around, rich reds and greens, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, delicate linework, instructional tableau: guru pointing to a diagrammatic Veda-tree labeled with 27 śākhās, students taking notes on palm leaves, soft shading and muted colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly scholarly scene in a garden: Vaiśampāyana teaching, a tree with 27 tagged branches, attendants with manuscripts, fine textile detail, architectural pavilion backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सप्तविंशन्महामतिः → सप्तविंशतिः + महामतिः; वैशम्पायननामासौ → वैशम्पायननाम + असौ; व्यासशिष्यश् चकार → व्यासशिष्यः + चकार (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 150.28; Agni Purana 150.29; Agni Purana 150.30; Agni Purana 150.31
FAQs
It conveys Veda-śākhā-vyavasthā: the organized transmission and diversification of the Yajurveda into 27 recensional branches, establishing authoritative lineages for ritual recitation and application.
By cataloging Vedic lineages (Vyāsa → Vaiśampāyana) and enumerating śākhās, it functions like a knowledge index—preserving historical-textual data alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences typical of the Agni Purana’s wide scope.
Honoring authentic guru-paramparā and śākhā-based preservation is presented as safeguarding śruti; maintaining correct Vedic transmission supports purity of ritual practice and is traditionally linked with religious merit (puṇya) through upholding dharma.