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
വൈശമ്പായനന്റെ ശിഷ്യർ ‘ചരക-അധ്വര്യു’മാരായി പ്രസിദ്ധരായി. ഗുരുവിന്റെ ബ്രാഹ്മണഹത്യാപാപം ക്ഷയിപ്പിക്കാൻ അവർ കഠിനവ്രതം അനുഷ്ഠിച്ച് തപസ്സോടെ സഞ്ചരിച്ചു; അതുകൊണ്ടാണ് ‘ചരകർ’ എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെട്ടത്.
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.