Vaisampayana
Sage in Hinduism
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Vaishampayana (Sanskrit: वैशंपायन, IAST: Vaiśaṃpāyana) is the traditional narrator of the Mahabharata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics of India.[1] He was one of Vyasa's four main disciples. His nephew and disciple Yajnavalkya was also a well-known sage.[2]
| Vaisampayana | |
|---|---|
Vaishampayana listens as Shaunaka recites the Mahabharata. | |
| Affiliation | Rishi |
| Texts | Mahabharata, Harivamsa |
Legend
Vaishampayana is a renowned sage who is stated to be the original teacher of the Krishna Yajur-Veda:[3]
The great man of intellect Vaiśampāyana, the disciple of Vyāsa, divided the tree of Yajurveda into seven branches.
— Agni Purana, Chapter 150
The Ashvalayana Grihya Sutra mentions him as Mahabharatacharya. He is also mentioned in the Taittiriya Aranyaka and the Ashtadhyayi of Pāṇini.[4]
Vyasa is regarded to have taught the Mahabharata of 100,000 verses to Vaishampayana. He is regarded to have recited the epic to King Janamejaya at his sarpa satra (snake sacrifice).[5] The Harivamsha Purana is also recited by him, where he narrates the legend of Prithu's emergence from Vena.[6][7]