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Shloka 78

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

उदीच्या: सामगा: शिष्या आसन् पञ्चशतानि वै । पौष्यञ्ज्यावन्त्ययोश्चापि तांश्च प्राच्यान् प्रचक्षते ॥ ७८ ॥

udīcyāḥ sāma-gāḥ śiṣyā āsan pañca-śatāni vai pauṣyañjy-āvantyayoś cāpi tāṁś ca prācyān pracakṣate

كان لتلاميذ بَوشيَنجِي وآوَنتْيَه عددُ خمسمائة، وعُرفوا بـ«مُنشدِي الساما من الشمال». وفي الأزمنة اللاحقة سُمّي بعضُهم أيضًا «مُنشدِي الساما من الشرق».

उदीच्याःnorthern
उदीच्याः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootउदीच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'northerners' qualifying शिष्याः
सामगाःSāma-singers
सामगाः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootसामग (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural; apposition to शिष्याः
शिष्याःdisciples
शिष्याः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
आसन्were
आसन्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), 3rd Person, Plural (बहुवचन)
पञ्च-शतानिfive hundred
पञ्च-शतानि:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDvigu (numerical compound: 'five hundreds'); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Plural; predicate numeral
वैindeed
वै:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवै (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात), emphasis/indeed
पौष्यञ्जि-आवन्त्ययोःof Pauṣyañji and Āvantya
पौष्यञ्जि-आवन्त्ययोः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootपौष्यञ्जि (प्रातिपदिक) + आवन्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDvandva (itaretara: 'Pauṣyañji and Āvantya'); Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
FormConjunction
अपिalso
अपि:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअपि (अव्यय)
FormParticle, 'also'
तान्them
तान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
FormConjunction
प्राच्यान्eastern
प्राच्यान्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Plural; predicate/appositive to तान्
प्रचक्षतेthey call/describe
प्रचक्षते:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र + चक्ष् (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), 3rd Person, Plural; ātmanepada
P
Pauṣyañji
Ā
Āvantya

FAQs

This verse notes that there were five hundred Sāma Veda-chanting disciples associated with the northern region, and it names Pauṣyañji and Āvantya among the traditions that are also counted as eastern.

In this section Śukadeva summarizes how Vedic knowledge is organized and transmitted through recognized schools and disciples, showing the continuity of śruti through paramparā even as time progresses toward Kali-yuga conditions.

It highlights the value of learning sacred knowledge through authentic lineages—encouraging seekers to study, chant, and practice under trustworthy guidance rather than relying on self-made interpretations.