अध्याय ३५१ — उञ्छवृत्ति-व्रतसिद्धेः मानुषस्य परमगतिः
Sūrya–Nāga Dialogue on the Perfected Gleaner-Ascetic
अपान्तरतमाश्रैव वेदाचार्य: स उच्यते । प्राचीनगर्भ तमृषिं प्रवदनन््तीह केचन
apāntaratam āśraiva vedācāryaḥ sa ucyate | prācīna-garbhaṃ tam ṛṣiṃ pravadantīha kecana ||
اپان्तरتم کا سہارا لے کر وہ ویداچاریہ کہلاتا ہے۔ یہاں بعض لوگ اس رشی کو ‘پراچین گربھ’ بھی کہتے ہیں۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse underscores the authority of Vedic knowledge as grounded in recognized lineages: one becomes known as a Vedic teacher by relying upon an established sage-tradition (here, Apāntarata), and epithets like ‘Prācīna-garbha’ emphasize the antiquity that legitimizes such transmission.
Vaiśampāyana reports a traditional identification: the figure connected with Apāntarata is regarded as a Vedic preceptor, and some authorities further refer to that sage by the epithet ‘Prācīna-garbha,’ highlighting his ancient, venerable status.