Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 61
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
वैशम्पायनशिष्या वै चरकाध्वर्यवोऽभवन् । यच्चेरुर्ब्रह्महत्यांह: क्षपणं स्वगुरोर्व्रतम् ॥ ६१ ॥
vaiśampāyana-śiṣyā vai carakādhvaryavo ’bhavan yac cerur brahma-hatyāṁhaḥ kṣapaṇaṁ sva-guror vratam
বৈশম্পায়নৰ শিষ্যসকল ‘চৰক-অধ্বৰ্যু’ নামে পৰিচিত হ’ল। গুৰুক ব্ৰাহ্মণহত্যাৰ পাপৰ পৰা মুক্ত কৰিবলৈ তেওঁলোকে কঠোৰ ব্ৰত পালন কৰি তপস্যাময় ভ্ৰমণ কৰিছিল; সেয়েহে তেওঁলোক ‘চৰক’ বুলি খ্যাত।
FAQs
This verse notes that Vaiśampāyana’s disciples undertook an expiation (kṣapaṇam) for the grave sin called brahma-hatyā, showing that serious wrongdoing is addressed through prescribed atonement under proper authority.
Because Vaiśampāyana’s disciples became identified as a distinct group of Adhvaryu priests—known as the Carakas—connected with the transmission and practice of Yajur-vedic ritual tradition described in this chapter.
The verse highlights disciplined accountability: accept guidance from a qualified teacher, follow corrective practices sincerely, and treat ethical restoration as a committed vow rather than a casual apology.