Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 52
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
पैलाय संहितामाद्यां बह्वृचाख्यां उवाच ह । वैशम्पायनसंज्ञाय निगदाख्यं यजुर्गणम् ॥ ५२ ॥ साम्नां जैमिनये प्राह तथा छन्दोगसंहिताम् । अथर्वाङ्गिरसीं नाम स्वशिष्याय सुमन्तवे ॥ ५३ ॥
pailāya saṁhitām ādyāṁ bahvṛcākhyāṁ uvāca ha vaiśampāyana-saṁjñāya nigadākhyaṁ yajur-gaṇam
Śrīla Vyāsadeva taught the first saṁhitā, the Ṛg Veda, to Paila and gave this collection the name Bahvṛca. To the sage Vaiśampāyana he spoke the collection of Yajur mantras named Nigada. He taught the Sāma Veda mantras, designated as the Chandoga-saṁhitā, to Jaimini, and he spoke the Atharva Veda to his dear disciple Sumantu.
FAQs
This verse describes Vyāsa teaching specific Vedic recensions to qualified disciples—Paila receiving the Bahvṛca (Ṛg) Saṁhitā and Vaiśampāyana receiving the Yajur collection—showing paramparā-based preservation.
To preserve and propagate the vast Vedic corpus effectively, Vyāsa entrusted distinct recensions to specialized disciples who could maintain accuracy and teach them onward.
Seek learning through authentic sources and trained teachers, value faithful transmission, and approach scripture with discipline rather than casual reinterpretation.