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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 1: ****Sri Paraasharah - ****Saamavedtaroh shaakhaah vyaasa shishyah sa jaiminih | **Kramena yena maitreya bibheda shrunu tam mama || *Sri Paraasharar *- O Maitreyar, I am going to tell you how Vyaasa’s shishya Jaimini, who learnt Saamaveda from Vedavyaasa, how he divided them into various shaakhaas.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 2: ****Sumantuh tasya putro abhoot sutvaa tasya api abhoot sutah | ****Adheetavantou cha ekaikaam samhitaam tou mahaamatee || **Jaimini had a son called Sumantu. Sumantu had a son called Sutvaa. They all studied one samhitaa each.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Sumantuh iti | Taam jaimini samhitaam tat putra poutrou ekaikou **ayougapadyena sva sva pituh adheetavantou | The son and grandson of Jaimini, studied from their respective fathers, not together, but one after the other. First, Jaimini’s son learnt, and then Jaimini’s grandson learnt.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 3: ****Sahasra samhitaa bhedam sukarmaa tat sutah tatah | ****Chakaara tam cha tat shishyou jagruhaate mahaamatou || **His son Sukarma divided into 1000 samhitaas. All his students learnt those 1000 samhitaas.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Sahasra iti | Evam sutvanah putrah sukarmaa api sva pituh adheetyaa sahasram ****samhitaabhedam chakaara * putram adhyaapayaamaasa sumantum atha ****jaimibhih | Sumantuh cha api sutvaanam putram adhyaapayan munih | **Sukarmaanam sutam sutvaa * iti vaayu ukteh | Sukarma learnt the Samhitaa from Sutva, and created 1000 branches. In *Vaayu *Puraana, it is said that they did not study together, but they studied from their respective fathers. Jamini taught it to his son Sumantu. Sumantu taught it to Sutva. Sutva taught it to Sukarma. ****www.sadagopan.org [[52]] of 219
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 4: ****Hiranyanaabhah kousalyah poushpinjih cha dvijottama | **Udechyaah saamagaah shishyaah tasya pancha shatam smrutaah || Sukarma had 5000 students Hiranyanaabha, Kousalya, Poushpinji, and others. They were called as Udeechya Saamagaas.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Hiranyanaabhah iti | Tasya poushpinjeh vakshyamaanaa lokaakshi aadyaah ****panchashatam shishyaah udeechya saamagaah smrutaah | **
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 5: ****Hiranyanaabhaat taavatyah samhitaa yaih dvijottamaih | ****Gruheetaah te api chochyante panditaih praachasaamagaah || **From Hiranyanaabha, the same number of Samhitaas those who learnt, were called as Praachyasaamagaas.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 6: ****Lokaakshih koumidih cha eva kaksheevaan laangalih tathaa | **Poushpinji shishyaah tat bhedaih samhitaa bahuleekrutaah || All these are Poushpinji’s shishyaas, Lokaakshi, Koumudi, Kaksheevan, Laangali. They learnt and created more divisions in the Samhitaas, and it became many more.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Lokaakshih iti | Tat bhedaih poushpinji shishyabhedaih, bahuleekrutaah **khyaapitaah | They were well established everywhere. The shishyaas of Poushpinji made the Samhitaas well established.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 7: ****Hiranyanaabhah shishyah tu chaturvimshati samhitaah | **Provaacha krutanaama asou shishyebhyah cha mahaamunih || Hiranyanaabha’s student, named Krutanaama, learnt 24 samhitaas, he again taught it to his students.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: **Hiranyanaabha iti | Krutanaamaa raajaa praachyasaamageshu anyatamah | Krutanaama was one of the Praachyasaamagaas.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 8: ****Tai cha api saamavedo asou shaakhabhih bahuleekrutah | ****Atharvanaam atho vakshye samhitaanaam samucchayam | ****Atharvavedam sa munih sumantuh amitadyutih || **The Saamaveda of 24 shaakhaas was made into more shaakhaas. Like this, the Saaamveda shaakhaas spread. Now, I am going to tell you about Atharvaveda, how those samhitaas were divided, and who did the pravartana. Sumantu who is www.sadagopan.org [[53]] of 219
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the shishya of Vyaasa, he learnt the Atharvaveda from Vedavyaasa.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Sumantuh vyaasashishyah | **
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 9: ****Shishyam adhyaapayaamaasa kabandham so api tam dvidhaa | ****Krutvaa tu deva darshaaya tathaa pathyaaya dattavaan || **He taught it to his student Kabandha. He again made it into 2 shaakhaas. He taught it to two students Devadarsha and Pathya.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 10: ****Devadarshasya shishyaah tu medho brahmabalih tathaa | **Shoulkaayanih pippalaadah tathaa anyo dvijasattama || Devadarsha had these *shishyaas - Medhaa, Brahmabali, *Shoulkaayani and Pippalaada.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Devadarsya iti | Atharvavede devadarshasamhitaah chatasro meghaadaih **gruheetaah |
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 11: ****Pathyasya api trayah shishyaah krutaa yaih dvija samhitaah | ****Jaabaalik kumudaadih cha truteeyah shounako dvija || **Pathya had three students - Kaabaali, Kumudaadi and Shounaka.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 12: ****Shounakah tu dvidhaa krutvaa dadou ekaam tu babhrave | **Dviteeyaam samhitaam praadaat saindhavaaya cha samjynine || Shounaka again created two shaakhaas, and taught one to Babhru. The second samhitaa he taught to Saindhava.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 13: ****Saindhavaat manjukeshah cha dvedhaabhinnaah tridhaa punah | **Nakshatra kalpo vedaanaam samhitaanaam tathaa eva cha || From Saindhava, Munjikesha learnt and divided into five divisions. They were called Nakshatrakalpa, Vedakalpa, Samhitaakalpa, …
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Sandhavaat iti | Munjikesha samhitayoh shishyaa anye ashtou yayoh bhedeshu ****subahoopayogaah pancha bhedaah nakshatrakalpaadyaah | Kalpashabdo ****vedaadhibhih pratyekam sambadhyate | Tathaa vaayuh - * Nakshatrakalpo ****vaitaanah samhitaanaam tathaa vidhih | Chaturtho angirasaam kalpah ****shaantikalpah cha panchamah | Shreshtaah tu atharvanaam ete samhitaanaam ****vikalpakaah | iti | Nakshatrakalpo jyotishaamshah | Vaitaanakalpo vedakalpo ****brahmatvaadi yajnyavidhih | Samhitaa kalpo mantrabhaagavidhih | **www.sadagopan.org [[54]] of 219
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Munjikesha had other eight students also, but the most widely used and most useful samhitaas are only five - Nakshatrakalpa and others. Kalpa shabda is also attached to the Vedaas. Vaayu Puraana says - *Nakshatrakalpa, Vaitaana, *Samhitaa, Aangirasa, Shaantikalpa. Nakshatrakalpa is telling about *Jyotisha. *Vaitaanakalpa is the Vedakalpa, this contains the Yajnya vidhi which is performed by one who becomes the Ritwik Brahma. Samhitaa kalpa has the mantrabhaagaas.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 14: ****Chaturthasya aangirasah shaantikalpah cha panchamah | ****Shreshthaah tu atharvanaam ete samhitaanaam vikalpakaah || **… Aangirasakalpa, Shaantikalpa. These five samhitaas are said to be very important, among the Atharva Samhitaas.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Chaturtha iti | Aangirasah kalpo abhichaaravidhih | Shaantikalpo ashtaadasha ****mahaashaantyaadi vidhih | **The fourth one, Aangirasa kalpa has Aabhichaarika mantraas. The fifth one, Shaantikalpa has 18 Shaantis told.
These are the five most widely used samhitaas of Atharva Veda.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 15: ****Aakhyaanaih cha upaakhyaanaih gaathaabhih kalpashuddhibhih | **Puraana samhitaam chakre puraanaartha vishaaradah || *Aakhyaana *(story), *Upaakhyaana *(story inside story), *Krishnadvaipaayana *Vyaasa did Puraana Samhitaa, with all these, and also Gaathaa and Kalpashuddhi.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Aakhyaanaih iti | Aakhyaanaih bhaarataadi itihaasaih, upaakhyaanaih - tat ****prasaktaih rubhu-nidaagha kathaa aadyaih | **Aakhyaana means Bhaarata and the Itihaasaas. Upaakhyaanaas are the stories like Rubhu-Nidaagha, which we studied earlier.
Gaathaah pitru pruthivee geetaadyaah | Gaathaas are praises.
**Kalpashuddhih vaaraaha aadi kalpa vruttaanta nirnayah | Pitru kalpa mantra **kalpa vidhih vaa | Kalpashuddhi is about how the Vaaraaha kalpa, and others are decided. Or it contains Pitru kalpaas, Mantra kalpaas, etc.
**Etaih saha sarga aadi pancha lakshanaam puraana samhitaam ashtaadasha **puraanaanaam sankshepa roopaam vyaasah chakre | Having all these things - *Aakhyaanaas, Upaakhyaanaas, Gaathaas, Kalpashuddhis, *Vyaasa wrote the Puraana Samhitaa, the 18 Puraanaas which are well known, which have the five lakshanaas about how a Puraana is qualified. Vyaasa did this www.sadagopan.org [[55]] of 219
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briefly.
*Sargashcha pratisargashcha vamsho manvantaraani cha | **Vamshaanucharitam cha iti puraanam pancha lakshanam || *Puraana contains creation, dissolution, description of various *vamshaas, *manvantaraas, the expansion of the vamshaas. That work which has all these five things is called as a Puraana.
**Yathaa uktam maatsye - * Puraanam sarvashaastraanaam prathamam ****braahmanam smrutam | Anantaram tu vaktrebhyo vedaah tasya vinirgataah || ****Puraanam ekam eva aaseet shata koti pravistaram * iti | **It is told in Maatsya - there was only one Puraana, which had hundred crores of shlokaas. Then it was divided.
**Dharma samhitaayaam cha * Braahmameva krute cha aadyam puraanam ****shrutisammitam | Ashtaadasha vidham tat cha shata koti prabhedatah | ****Tasmaat tretaayuge proktam shatam ekaadasha uttaram | Puraana samhitaa ****kartaa dvaapare vyaasa eva hi | iti | **Evan Dharma Samhitaa says - first Braahma was made. In the Dvaapara, creator of Puraana Samhitaas was Vyaasa only - 111 is told.
**Punah maatsye cha * Tat artho atra chaturlakshaih samkshepena niveshitah | **Puraanaani dasha ashtou cha saampratam tat iha uchyate | iti | In Maatsya, it is told again, there were four lakh shlokaas. Now, all those things are condensed into 18 Puraanaas.
**Ayam arthah - Kruta yuge vedaat poorvam brahmanaa srushtasya shata koti ****pravistarasya puraana skandhasya braahmasamjyasya punah tretaayaam ****braahmaadi ashtaadasha rishibhih grantha kotyaa samkshipya braahma ****paadmaadi ashtaadasha aatmanaa vibhaktasya ekaadasha adhika shata ****samhitasya punah dvaaparaante tasya saaram vedavyaasah chaturlakshana ****samkshipya ashtaadasha puraana samhitaam krutvaa romaharshanam sootam **adhyaapayat iti | This is the summary - 100 crore Puraanaas were there, which were created by Chaturmukha Brahma in Kruta Yuga. Vedavyaasa again condensed it into four lakhs. From that, they created 18 Puraana Samhitaas. They taught it to the *Soota *Romaharshana.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 16: ****Prakhyaato vyaasashishyo abhoot sooto vai romaharshanah | **Puraana samhitaam tasmai dadou vyaaso mahaamatih || Vyaasa shishya, soota, who is Romaharshana, is well known. Vyaasa taught the Puraana Samhitaa to Romaharshana.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 17: ****Sumatih cha agnivarchaah cha mitraayuh shaamsapaayanah | **www.sadagopan.org [[56]] of 219
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Akrutavrano atha saavarnih shat shishyaah tasya cha abhavan || Romaharshana had six *shishyaas, Sumati, Agnivarcha, Mitraayu, Shaamsapaayana, *Akrutavrana, Saavarni.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Sumatih iti | Sumatih ityaadi | Tasya romaharshanasya | **
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 18: ****Kaashyapah samhitaa kartaa saavarnih shaamsapaayanah | ****Romaharshanikaa cha anyaa tisruunaam moolasamhitaa || **Kaashyapa is of Kashyapa Gotra, one of the shishyaas of Romaharshana.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Kaashyapa iti | Kaashyapah - akrutavranah, * Kaashyapo hi akrutavrahah * iti ****vaayu ukteh | Tisruunaam kaashyapaadikrutaanaam samhitaanaam chaturthee ****romaharshanaakhyaa vyaasena sankshiptaa | Romarharshanena adheetaa sva ****shishyebhyah pratipaaditaa | Romaharshaninaa ugrahravasaa api ****shoubakaadibhyah khyaapitaa | Tathaa cha maatsye * Chaturlakshanam idam ****proktam vyaasena adbhutakarmanaa | Matpitre mama pitraa tu maya tubhyam ****niveditam | iti | Evam tanmoolaat sarvaah puraana samhitaah kalou ****chaturvidhaah, * Sarvaah taa hi chatushpaadaah sarvaah taah cha ****arthavaadikaah | Paathaantara pruthak bhootaah vedashaakhyaa yathaa tathaa ****| iti vaayu ukteh | Kourme tu svasya svene eva chaturbhedatvam uktam, * ****idam tu panchadashamam puranaam kourmam uttamam | Chaturdhaa ****samsthitam punyam samhitaanaam prabhedatah | iti | **kaashyapa is Akrutavrana (as told in Vayu purana) who belongs to the *Kashyapa *Gotra, and Saavarnee and Shaamsapaayana created a samhitaa. Kaashyapa and others created three *samhitaas, *. The fourth one Vyaasa condensed it based on the three samhitaas created by kaashapa and other, into another one called Romaharshanikaa. It is so called becaus it was studied by Romaharshana and taught to his shishyas. Romaharshana and Ugrashravas, by both of them it was told to Shaunaka and others. As told in Maatsya purana – ‘Consisting of four lakh slokas this was taught by Vyaasa who has achieved wonders. It was taught to my father and my father taught it to me and I am telling you’. Thus The Puranas are divided into four in Kali Yuga and all of them have the rools in them. They are having different paathaas just like veda shaakhaas as told in Vayu Purana. In Kaurma Purana, this division of kaurma purana itself is told by itself thus – ‘this is the sacred Kaurma Purana which is the 15th one. Divided into four based on the division of samhitas’.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 19: **Chatushtayena bhedena samhitaanaam idam mune || The four which were created by *Akrutavarna Kaashyapa, Saavarni, *Shaamsapaayana, and Romaharshanika were condensed into this, Sri *Vishnu *Puraana. www.sadagopan.org [[57]] of 219
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**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Chatushtayena iti | Puraana samhitaanam etena chatushtayena moolabhootena ****tadartham smrutvaa purusha-bheda kaala bheda anugunena mayaa idam - ****vaishnavam puraanam krutam iti arthah | Etat samhitaa chatushtayamoolatvam ****sarva puraanaanam saadhaaranam | **These four were the primary source of all the *Puraana Samhitaa *- what were created by Kaashyapa, Saavarni, Shaamsapaayana and Romaharshanika. Having studied the meanings of all those things, because of the reducing capability of people as time progresses, I have created this Vishnu Puraana. All the Puraanaas have these four Samhitaas as their source. These four samhitaas are the primary source for all the 18 Puraanaas.
The four samhitaas told here - the moola samhitaas, are the primary source for all the Ashtaadasha Puraanaas. Sri Paraasharar is telling to Maitreyar that this *Vishnu *Puraana, the present one, is also created from the four Samhitaas which are the primary source.
Now the Ashtaadasha Puraanaas are going to be told.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 20: ****Aadyam sarvapuranaanaam puraanam braahmam uchyate | ****Ashtaadasha puraanaani puraanajynaah prachakshate || **The first Puraana of the 18 is said to be the Braahma Puraana. Those who are knowledgeable about the Puraanaas, say that there are 18 Puraanaas.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Braahma puraanam prashamsati - aadyam iti | Aadyam moolabhootam | ****Puraana samkhyaama aaha - ashtaadasha iti | **Braahma Puraana is the first one. Eighteen Puraanaas are well known. *****Braahma Puraana, Paadma Puraana, Vaishnava Puraana, Shaiva Puraana, *Bhaagavata Puraana, Naaradeeya Puraana, Maarkandeya, … All the *Puraanaas *- there are four sections or divisions. Vaishnava Puraana has got six sections. It is said that the Vishnu Puraana has 10000 shlokaas, it is told as having 8000 in other place, all these are basically differences in the Samhitaas. **
The Eighteen Puraanaas are listed here - *Braahma, Paadma, Vaishnava, Shaiva, **Bhaagavata, Naaredeeya, Maarkandeya, Aagneya, Bhavishyat, Brahmavaivarta, *Lainga, Vaaraaha, Skaanda, Vaamana, Kourma, Maatsya, Gaaruda, Brahmaanda. These are the Mahaapuraanaas which are 18 in number.
There are some pramaanaas and explanations given, in a detailed commentary, which we see next. www.sadagopan.org [[58]] of 219
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The names of the all the shishyaas, the prashishyaas, how the pravartana was done for the four Vedaas, who are the students of which aachaaryaas, the Samhitaas they learnt, how they created new branches, as time progressed due to kaala bheda and purusha bheda, it was made easy for people to study and understand, and with these innumerable branches, Vedaas spread, like this, and we say " Anantaa vai vedaah", there are innumerable branches, and after that, how the Puraanaas were created, how Vyaasa created 18 Puraanaas based on the four Samhitaas, are told. We are studying about Amsha 3, Chapter 6. After telling about how the four Vedaas were taught by Vyaasa’s shishyaas, prashishyaas, their sons, about the rishis who studied under whom, about the branches which were created, the shaakhaa bhedaas, which Sri Paraasharar narrated, and about the Puraanaas, about how Romaharshana was chosen to do pravartana of Puraanaas, and Itihaasaas, and which were all the Puraanaas, which were created by Vyaasa, the details of those are going to be told. We had studied the names of the Puraanaas in the previous class. There are four main samhitaas and the Puraanaas are based on those. About that is going to be told now. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 21: ****Braahmam paadmam vaishnavam cha shaivam bhaagavatam tathaa | ****Tathaa anyam naaradeeyam cha maarkandeyam cha saptamam || ***Braahma Puraana, Paadma Puraana, Vaishnava Puraana, Shaiva Puraana, *Bhaagavata Puraana, Naaradeeya Puraana, Maarkandeya, … All the Puraanaas - there are four sections or divisions. Vaishnava Puraana has got six sections. It is said that the Vishnu Puraana has 10000 shlokaas, it is told as having 8000 in other place, all these are basically differences in the Samhitaas. ****Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Taani eva anukraamati braahmam iti | Puraanaanaam sarveshaam ****chaturbhedatvam uktam | Vaishnavam tu shadbhedam | Tena puranaantareshu ****vaishnavasya dasha sahasra ashta sahasratvaadi uktih samhitaa bhedamaana ****vishayaa kalpyaa | ****Yathaa lainga * Puraanam vaishnavam chakre prasaadaat vai paraasharah | Shat ****prakaaram samasta artha soochakam jnyaana sanchayam || Dasha sahasra ****sammitam sarva vedaartha samyutam || * Shaiva maatsyayoh tu * Vaishnavam ****cha ashtasaahasram iti; kvachit deshe nava sahasram uchyate, kachit **chaturvimshati sahasram kachit dvaa vimshati sahasram | Lainga Puraana says - Paraasharar did the Vaishnava Puraana, and it was divided into six sections, six amshaas. It has all the important meanings that we have to know about all the aspects. It has got 10000 shlokaas, and it establishes all the meanings of all the Vedaas. In Shaiva and Maatsya Puraanaas, Vishnu Puraana is said to be 8000 shlokaas. In some places, it is told as 9000 shlokaas. In some places www.sadagopan.org [[59]] of 219
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it is told as 24000 shlokaas. In other places, 22000 shlokaas are told. Idam tu shat sahasram asmaabhih vyaakhyaayamaanam | Sri Engal Aalwaan says that what he is commenting here, has 6000 shlokaas. Which are divided into 6 Amshaas. Sargaadi panchakam puraanaanaam saamaanya lakshanam | The general characteristic of every Puraana is that it has got 5 characteristics. Sarga, pratisarga, vamsha, manvantara, vamshaanucharita. Vaisheshikam tu maatsya uktam | Some additional aspects are told in Maatsya Puraana. **Yathaa * Brahmanaa abhihitam poorvam yaavanmaatram mareechaye | **Braahmam tat dasha sahasram puraanam parikeertyate || The Braahma Puraana is said to be 10000 shlokaas. **Etat eva cha vai braahmam paadmakalpe jagat hitam | Paadmam pancha **panchaashat sahasraani nigadhate || The same Braahma Puraana in the Paadma kalpa, for the good of the world, was retold as Paadma Puraana having 55000 shlokaas. **Vaaraaha kalpa vruttaantam iti adhikrutya paraasharah | Yaan praaha ****dharmaan akhilaan tat yuktam vaishnavam viduh | Vaishnavaakhyam ashta ****sahasram tat puraanam viduh budhaah | Shveta kalpe prasangena dharmaan **vaayuh iha abraveet || Then Paraasharar taking on the story of the Vaaraaha kalpa, is said to be Vaishnava Puraana. All the dharmaas of the Vaaraaha kalpa are told here. It is supposed to have 8000 shlokaas. The details of the dharmaas of the *Shveta *kalpa were told by Vaayu. **Yatra tat vaayaveeyam syaat rudra maahaatmya samyutam | Chaturvimshati **sahasraani puraanam shaivam uchyate || In the Shveta kalpa, Vaayu told this Shaiva Puraana, and it has got the greatness of Rudra. It has got 24000 shlokaas. **Yatra adhikrutya gaayatreem varynate dharmavistarah | Vrutraasura vadho **yatra tat bhaagavatam uchyate || The Puraana where, based on the Gaayatree mantra, various meanings of the Gaayatree mantra are explained, and thereby all the dharmaas are told, explained based as embedded in the Gaayatree mantra, and also the *Vrutraasura *vadha, this is Bhaagavata Puraana. **Saarasvataaya munayo yat shudhyeyuh nara amaraah | Ashtaa dasha sahasraani **tat bhaagavatam uchyate || This was told to Saarasvata Muni, where all the devaas and humans get purified. This has 18000 shlokaas, and it is Bhaagavata Puraana. **Yatra aaha naarado dharmaan bruhat kalpa aashrayaani ha | Pancha vimshat **sahasraani naaradeeyam tat uchyate || www.sadagopan.org [[60]] of 219
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The details of Bruhat kalpa were told by Naarada, having 25000 shlokaas, is told as Naaradeeya. **Yatra adhikrutya shakunim dharma adharma vichaaranaa || Tat dvaa trimshat **sahasram vai maarkandeyam iha uchyate || In the Shakuni kalpa, the dharma adharma vichaarana, is known as *Maarkandeya *Puraana, and it has got 32000 shlokaas. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 22: ****Aagneyam ashtamam chaiva bhavishyat navamam smrutam | ****Dashamam brahmavaivartam laingam ekaadasham smrutam || **… Aagneya, Bhavisyat, Brahmavaivarta, Lainga, … **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Aagneyam iti | * Shaapa avasaane bhrugunaa rishinaa yat prakaashitam | ****Chayanaanaam samutpattih ishtakaa gananam tathaa || Kratu samkhyaaditah ****krutvaa hi aagneyam tat iha uchyate | Aagneyam cha ashta saahasram sarva ****kratu phala pradam || **Bhrugu rishi when he got rid of his shaapa, whatever he told, the various *yaagaas, *homaas, etc., how they got created, with how many bricks the homa kunda is to be constructed, are told. The kratus, and others which are told, this is called Aagneya Puraana. This has 8000 shlokaas. By doing paaraayana of this Puraana, one can get the benefits of all the Kratus. **Shataanikena prushtena vyaasashishyena dheemataa | Souraa dharmaa ****visheshena vyaakhyaataah tu sumantunaa || Eka trimshat sahasraani **bhaivishyaakhyam subhaashitam | Vyaasa’s student, Shataaneeka, he asks Vyaasa, and Soura kalpaas dharmaas are told - Vyaasa’s shishya asks Sumantu. 31000 shlokaas, is called Bhavishyat Puraana. **Yatra vai vaishnavaa dharmaa vasishthena mahaatmanaa || Ambareeshasya vai ****proktaah sargo braahmah tathaa eva cha || Puraanam brahma vaivartam tat ****dvaadasha sahasrakam || Yat tat eeshaana kalpasya vruttaantam adhikrutya ****cha | Nandinaam laingam iti uktam ekaadasha sahasrakam || **Vaishnava dharmaas are told by Vasishta rishi to Ambareesha, and also the *Brahma *srushti. This Puraana is said to be Brahma Vaivarta Puraana. It has 12000 shlokaas. The dharmaas of the Eeshaana kalpa were told by Nandi, this is known as *Lainga *Puraana, and it has got 11000 shlokaas. **Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 23: ****Vaaraaham dvaadasham cha eva skaandam cha atra trayodasham | **Chaturdasham vaamanam cha kourmam panchadasham tathaa || Vaaraaha is the 12th Puraana, Skaanda is the 13th Puraana. 14th is *Vaamana, *Kourma is the 15th Puraana. **Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Vaaraaham iti | * Mahaa varaahasya punarmaahaatmyam adhikrutya cha | ****Vishnunaa abhihitam kshonyaah tat vaaraaham iha uchyate | Maanavasya ****prasangena kalpasya munisattamaah | Chaturvimshat sahasraani tat puraanam ****iha uchyate || **www.sadagopan.org [[61]] of 219
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In the maanava kalpa, the Mahaavaraaha Puraana was created. It contains the maahatmya of Vishnu in Mahaa Varaaha avataara, about lifting the earth. This has got 24000 shlokaas. **Yatra maaheshvaraan dharmaan adhikrutya cha shanmukhah | Kalpe ****tarpurushe rudra charitaih upabrumhitam || Skaandam naama puraanam tat **sahasra shata sammitam | The Maheshvara dharmaas were all explained by Shanmukha, in the Purusha kalpa, the Rudra charita was all explained. This is known as Skaanda Puraana. It has got 100000 shlokaas. Trivikramasya maahaatmyam adhikrutya chaturmukhah || Chaturmukha has told about the greatness of Trivikrama Puraana. **Trivargam cha tridaivatyam vaamanam parikeertyate || Chaturdasha **sahasraani shveta kalpa anugam shivam || This is about the Devaas, and three vargaas. This is Vaamana Puraana. This has 14000 shlokaas according to the Shveta Kalpa. **Yatra dharma artha kaamaanam mokshasya cha rasaatale | Maahaatmyam ****kathayaamaasa koormaroopee janaardanah | Indra dyumna prasangena ****rishibhyah shakra sannidhou | Kourmam tat shat sahasraani (lakshmee) **agnikalpa anushangikam || Janaardana in the form of Koorma, has told about *dharma, artha, kaama, *moksha in the Rasaatala. This is the *Indradyumna kalpa. Koorma roopi *Janaardana Himself told to all the rishis in presence of Indra. There are 6000 shlokaas, and this is known as Kourma Puraana. It follows the Agni kalpa also. **Shruteenaam yatra kalpaadou pravrutti artham janaardanah | Matsya roopa cha ****manave narasimhopavarnanam | Adhikrutya abraveet sapta kalpavruttam ****sahavratam | Tat maatsyam iti jaaneedhvam sahasraani chaturdasha || **14000 shlokaas are there in Maatsya Puraana. This is to do pravartana of all the Vedaas. Janaardana manifested as Matsya. Narasimha avataara is also told there. Details of the Sapta kalpa were told. **Yathaa cha garude kalpe vishvaangam garudodbhavam | Adhikruta abraveet ****vishnuh garudam tat iha uchyate || Tat shodasha sahasraani nrupate tu iha **patyate | Vishnu Himself has told about the Gaaruda kalpa, the Gaaruda Puraana. There are 16000 shlokaas in this. **Brahmaa brahmaanda maahaatmyam adhikrutya abraveet punah || Tat cha ****dvaadasha saahasram brahmaandam dvi shataadhikam | Bhavishyaanaam cha ****kalpaanaam shrooyate yatra vistarah || Tat brahaandam puranam tu ****brahmanaa samudaahrutam || ityaadi | **Chaturmukha Brahma again told about Brahmaanda maahaatmya. This has 212000 shlokaas. This is called Brahmaanda Puraana, and was told by *Chaturmukha *Brahma himself. Maatsyam cha gaarudam cha eva brahmaandam cha tatah param | www.sadagopan.org [[62]] of 219
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Mahaa puraanaani etaani hi ashtaadasha mahaamune | The Eighteen Puraanaas are listed here - *Braahma, Paadma, Vaishnava, Shaiva, **Bhaagavata, Naaredeeya, Maarkandeya, Aagneya, Bhavishyat, Brahmavaivarta, *Lainga, Vaaraaha, Skaanda, Vaamana, Kourma, Maatsya, Gaaruda, Brahmaanda. These are the Mahaapuraanaas which are 18 in number.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 24: ****Tathaa cha upapuraanaani munibhih kathitaani cha | ****Sargashcha pratisargashcha vamsha manvantaraani cha | **Sarveshu eteshu kathyante vamsha anucharitam cha yat || There are Upapuraanaas, which are in the next category. In all these, the details of creation, dissolution, vamshaas, manvantaraas, how the vamshaas continued and their progeny, are all told.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Sarge che iti | Ashesheshu puraaneshu sarga pratisarga aadishu kartrutvena ****bhagavaan vishnuh kathyate, sargaadeh tat kartrukatvaat * Yato vaa imaani ****bhootaani * ityaadi shruteh | **Sarga and pralaya and the other details are told. In all the Puraanaas, Vishnu is said to be the Creator. Not only Creation, but also dissolution. None other than Vishnu does the creation and dissolution. Puraanaas are upabrahmanaas of the Shrutis; they explain in more detail the meanings established in the Shrutis; they do vishadeekarana, upabrahmana. In the Vedaas, it is established that one who does creation, sustenance and dissolution, is none other than *Mahaavishnu. **Yato vaa imaani bhootaani jaayante, yena jaataani jeevanti, yah prayanti *abhisamvishanti is from Taittiriyopanishad. Tat aikshata bahusyaam prajaayeya is from Chaandogya. Everywhere it is told that Mahaavishnu only is the creator. He is told by the words sat, aakaasha, jyoti, brahma, aatma, also asat. All these culminate in the specific term Naaraayana, as told in Subaalopanishad. He is the sole creator, and is responsible for sustenance and dissolution of all the worlds.
**Vishnuh brahmaa shivo vishnuh vishnuh aaditya eva cha | Sarvam vishnumayam ****brahman iti pouraanikam vachah || Evameva puraaneshu dashasu ashtasu na ****anyathaa | Anyathaa ye prapadyante naarakaah te bhavanti vai || iti aaditya **puraanam || Puraanaas clearly declare that Vishnu only is *Brahma, Shiva, Aaditya *- all are told in Saamaanaadhikaranya. He is antaryaami, and all are His vibhootis. Everything is Vishnumaya. In all the 18 Puraanaas, this is what is told, and nothing else. Those who understand it differently, they go to naraka. This is told in the *Aaditya *Puraana.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 25: ****Yat etat tava maitreya puraanam kathyate mayaa | ****Etat vaishnava samjyam vai paadmasya samanaantaram || **Now, Paraasharar tells about the present Puraana which he is telling to Maitreyar. After Braahma Puraana, Paadma Puraana, Vaishnava Puraana came. This www.sadagopan.org [[63]] of 219
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is Vaishnava Puraana, known as Vishnu Puraana.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 26: ****Sarge cha pratisarge cha vamsha manvantaraadhishu | **Kathyate bhagavaan vishnuh asheshu eva sattama || For creation, dissolution, sustenance, the One who is responsible is *Bhagavaan *Vishnu only. This is told in all the 18 Puraanaas. This Sri Paraasharar declares very clearly here.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 27: ****Angaani vedaah chatravaaro meemaamsaa nyaavistarah | ****Puraanam dharmashaastram cha vidyaah hi etaah chaturdasha || **These are called 14 Vidyaa sthaanaas. Four Vedaas and their *Angaas - Shikshaa, **Vyaakaranam, Chandah, Nirukta, Jyotisha, Kalpa; Meemaamsaa, Nyaayavistara, *Puraanaas and Dharmashaastraas.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Puraanaanaam veda upabrumhakatvena dharma vedana hetutvaat dharma ****vidyaa sthaaneshu antarbhaavam darshayati angaani iti | Itihaasasya puraane ****antarbhaavah * itihaasa puraanaabhyaam vedam samupabruhmayet * iti **vachanaat | Puraanaas are all upabrahmana of Vedaas. Rishis and others who have studied and understood all the Vedaas, have directly perceived the meanings established in those Vedaas, and have told in their own words - these are the Puraanaas. One who studies the Vedaas without the support of Upabrahmanaas, Vedaas are scared of them because it is said that Vedaas say that this person is going to cheat me; he has not understood the meanings of the Vedaas, has studied without the support of Upabrahmanaas. Upabrahmanaas have to be used in order to understand the meanings of the Vedaas. In these, Itihaasaas and Puraanaas are told. Itihaasaas are combined inside the Puraanaas, as in the 14 Vidyaasthaanaas, Itihaasaas are not mentioned. These 14 are called Dharma vidyaa sthaanaas.
Puraanaas are upabrahmana to Vedaas, and are responsible for establishing dharmaas. One can know the dharmaas, understand the dharmaas by studying the Puraanaas. These 14 are called Dharma Vidyaa sthaanaas. These are all accessories to studying Vedaas.
Bhaashyakaarar has given definition of upabrahmana in *Sribhaashya. **Upabrahmanam naama vidita sakala veda tat arthaanaam sva yoga mahima **saakshaatkruta veda tattvaarthaanaam sva vaakyaih sva avagata vedaartha *vyakteekaranam | Those who have studied all the Vedaas, and their meanings in totality, and who have done the saakshaatkaara through their own yoga, who have perceived directly the tattvaas which are established in the Vedaas, in their own words, sentences, they have actually seen, done saakshaatkaara, and have told in their own words, this is called Upabrahmana, This is according to the Vedaas only. One has to understand the meanings of the Vedaas along with www.sadagopan.org [[64]] of 219
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the Upapuraanaas only.
Meemaamsaa is one shaastra. This is where Bhaashyakaarar establishes the aikashaastrya of Meemaamsaa. Meemaamsa is a vyaakhyaana on the *Vedaas. *Vedaas have got two parts -Poorvakaanda/Karmakaanda and Uttarakaanda/Jnyanaakaanda. Jaimini rishi has written the meanings of the Poorvakaanda in the form of Sootraas; Jaimini is also a student of Baadaraayanar. Baadaraayanar teaches Jaimini the Saamaveda and he continues to teach to his students. The meanings of the Uttarakaanda are explained in the form of Sootraas by *Krishnadvaipaayanar / Vyaasar / *Baadaraayanar, who is also the creator of these 18 Puraanaas. This is told as aikashaastrya, one shaastra only, that there are 2 chapters of the same book. This is told as one word Meemaamsa, and not as two words, as they are same shaastra.
Nyaayavistara is by Goutama Rishi.
The Dharmashaastraas establish the meaning of the *Karmakaanda. *Puraanaas establish the meanings of the Uttarakaanda. Itihaasa is also embedded in Puraana itself.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 28: ****Aayurvedo dhanurvedo gaandharvah cha eva te trayah | ****Arthashaastram chaturtham tu vidyaa hi ashtaadashaa eva taah || **Another four vidyaas are included. They are *Aayurveda, Dhanurveda, *Gaandhavaveda, Arthashaastra. This makes the total number of Vidyaasthaanaas as 18.
These four are not included as Dharma Vidyaa sthaanaas.
Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Aayur iti | Aayurveda aadi chatushkasya drushta praadhaanyaat kevala ****vidyaasthaanaatvaat na dharmasthaanatvam iti tasya pruthak yuktih | * ****Aayurvedo vaidyashaastram gaandharvo geetashaasanam | Artha shaastram ****dandaneetih dhanurvedo astrashaasanam | Chatvaara upavedaah te * iti **vaijayantee | The four vidyaas - Aayurveda, Dhanurveda, Gaandhavaveda, Arthashaastra, are telling about what we directly perceive here, what benefits we get here, they are called as just Vidyaasthaanaas, and not as *Dharma vidyaa sthaanaas. *Aayurveda is vaidyashaastra. Gaandharva is about *geetha shaastra. *Arthashaastra is about dandaneeti, Dhanurveda is about astraas. These are said to be Upavedaas. Vyjayanti grantha is telling about this.
Whereas Vedaas and others talk about creation and other things which we cannot see here, and what we attain at a later time, in another birth.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 29: ****Jnyeyaa brahmarshayah poorvam tebhyo devarshayah punah | ****Raajarshayah punah tebhyo rishi prakrutayah trayah || **Three kinds of rishis were there. Initially Brahmarshis were there. Then Devarshis, and then Raajarshis.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Veda prasangaat tat darshinah rishayo vamsha bhedaat tridhaa uktaah jnyeyaa ****iti aadinaa | Rishi prakrutayah rishi svabhaavaah | **Based on which vamsha they belong to, they are said to be *Brahmarshis, *Devarshis or Raajarshis.
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Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 30: ****Iti shaastraah samaakhyaataah shaakhaa bhedaah tathaa eva cha | **Kartaarah cha eva shaakhaanaam bheda hetuh tava uditah || I have told you all the shaakhaas, the various branches. About who are responsible for creating these branches, and what is the reason why these branches were created.
One unit of eternal Veda was there, but all these branches were created, which are divided, subdivided, etc. It became a huge forest like a tree with innumerable branches. I have so far told you how it happened.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Iti iti | Bheda hetuh manushyaanaam balaadi alpatvam | **What is the reason why these branches were created? Because as time progressed from Kruta, Treta, Dvaapara, and Kaliyuga, the capacity of people, their *aayus, *jnyaana, shakti, went on decreasing. Because of this, the branches had to be created.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 31: ****Sarva manvantareshu evam shaakhaa bhedaah samaah smrutaah || **In all the manvantaraas, these branches are same.
**Sri Engal Aalwaan’s Commentary: ****Sarva manvantareshu iti | Praajaapatyaa brahmadrushtaah; tat vikalpaah ****tasyaah vibhaagabhootaah ime adheeyamaanaah shaakhaabhedaah anityaa iva ****prati dvaaparam kinchit bhinna paathatayaa shaakhaantaratvam neetaah santah ****samantaat nityaa eva tathaa tathaa drushyante | **Praajaapatyaa means what is seen by Brahma. In that, there are various divisions. The Praajaapatyaa kaanda, whatever was seen by Chaturmukha Brahma himself, in which various paathaantaraas, shaakhaabhedaas are there. Now, whatever is being studied, are studied with a different version, in various Dvaapara yugaas, and gives a feeling that they are anitya. If they are nitya, how can there be *paathaantaraas, *shaakhaantaraas, etc. In one it says Vijnyaane tishthan, in another it says *Aatmani *tishthan. Like this, paathaantara bhedaas, shaakhaa bhedaas are there. In totality www.sadagopan.org [[66]] of 219
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they are eternal. But there are so many branches with so many variations in the paathaas. They look like anitya, but in totality there are one only. There may be a difference in which portion of which shaakhaa is being studied, because people may be studying different shaakhaas. In each manvantara, different shrutis are being studied. Based on that, in various parts itself, different shrutis are being practiced, this does not make Vedaas as anitya, because in totality, it is eternal. Different parts are being studied at different times. They are eternal, and various branches, paathaantaraas are seen.
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 32: ****Praajaapatyaa shrutih nityaa tat vikalpaah tu ime dvija || **
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**Sri Vishnu Puraana, Amsha 3, Chapter 6, Shloka 33: ****Etat te kathitam sarvam yat prushto aham iha tvayaa | ****Maitreya veda sambandham kim anyat kathayaami te || **I have told you all these things as you requested. I told you everything related to Vedaas, what else do you want to know?
This concludes Amsha Three, Chapter Six.
|| Iti Sri Vishnu Puraane Truteeye Amshe Shashto Adhyaayah ||* **|| Iti Sri Vishnu Chitteeye Vishnu Puraana Vyaakhyaane Truteeye Amshe Shashto Adhyayaah || *** **www.sadagopan.org [[67]] of 219
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|| Atha Saptamo Adhyaayah || *Maitreya’s Questions, Yama’s Advice to Bhata *
Now, Chapter Seven. ****