Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 75

Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage

Devanagari script

जैमिने: सामगस्यासीत् सुमन्तुस्तनयो मुनि: । सुत्वांस्तु तत्सुतस्ताभ्यामेकैकां प्राह संहिताम् ॥ ७५ ॥

Transliteration

jaimineḥ sama-gasyāsīt sumantus tanayo muniḥ sutvāṁs tu tat-sutas tābhyām ekaikāṁ prāha saṁhitām

Translation

Jaimini Ṛṣi, the authority of the Sāma Veda, had a son named Sumantu, and the son of Sumantu was Sutvān. The sage Jaimini spoke to each of them a different part of the Sāma-veda-saṁhitā.

Synonyms

• जैमिनेः: of Jaimini
• जैमिनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जैमिनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• सामगस्य: of the Sāma-singer
• सामगस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• सुमन्तुः: Sumantu
• सुमन्तुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमन्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• तनयः: son
• तनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to सुमन्तुः

• मुनिः: sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition

• सुत्वान्: Sutvān
• सुत्वान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• तत्-सुतः: his son
• तत्-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'his son'); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ताभ्याम्: to those two
• ताभ्याम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dual (द्विवचन); Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी) form ताभ्याम्; here Dative (सम्प्रदान) with प्राह

• एक-एकाम्: one each
• एक-एकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Iterative dvandva/paired expression 'one each'; Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies संहिताम्

• प्राह: said/told
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/आह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• संहिताम्: a recension/collection (saṁhitā)
• संहिताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Jaimini
• Sumantu
• Sutvān

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about preserving the Vedas through disciplic succession (guru-paramparā)?

This verse highlights that Vedic knowledge is preserved by orderly transmission: Jaimini’s lineage continues through his son Sumantu, and then through Sumantu’s son Sutvān, who teaches the Saṁhitās to disciples—showing structured preservation via paramparā.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe names like Jaimini, Sumantu, and Sutvān in Canto 12?

Śukadeva is explaining how the Vedas and their recensions were handed down after being divided and organized, establishing the authenticity of Vedic texts through recognized teachers and their students.

How can the principle of guru-paramparā be applied in modern spiritual life?

One can learn scripture from a reliable lineage, study consistently under qualified guidance, and pass on teachings accurately—prioritizing faithful transmission over personal invention.