Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 7

Paramparā of the Atharva Veda and Purāṇas; Definition of a Purāṇa

Daśa-lakṣaṇam

Devanagari script

कश्यपोऽहं च सावर्णी रामशिष्योऽकृतव्रण: । अधीमहि व्यासशिष्याच्चत्वारो मूलसंहिता: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

kaśyapo ’haṁ ca sāvarṇī rāma-śiṣyo ’kṛtavraṇaḥ adhīmahi vyāsa-śiṣyāc catvāro mūla-saṁhitāḥ

Translation

व्यासशिष्य रोमहार्षण यांनी पुराणांचे चार मूल-संहिता विभाग केले. कश्यप, मी, सावर्णि आणि रामशिष्य अकृतव्रण—आम्ही चौघांनी त्या चार विभागांचे अध्ययन केले.

Synonyms

• कश्यपः: Kaśyapa
• कश्यपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सावर्णी: Sāvarṇī (name)
• सावर्णी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावर्णी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (नाम)

• रामशिष्यः: Rāma’s disciple
• रामशिष्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (रामस्य शिष्यः)

• अकृतव्रणः: Akṛtavraṇa
• अकृतव्रणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकृतव्रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अधीमहि: we study
• अधीमहि: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

• व्यासशिष्यात्: from Vyāsa’s disciple
• व्यासशिष्यात्: Apadana (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक) + शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (व्यासस्य शिष्यः)

• चत्वारः: four
• चत्वारः: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण

• मूलसंहिताः: the original compilations
• मूलसंहिताः: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (मूलाः संहिताः)

Characters & Entities

• Kashyapa
• Savarṇi
• Akritavrana
• Rama (Parashurama)
• Vyasa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the disciplic succession (paramparā) of the text?

This verse highlights that recognized sages (Kaśyapa, Sāvarṇi, and Akṛtavraṇa) learned the Bhāgavatam’s foundational recensions from a disciple of Vyāsa, emphasizing an authentic guru-to-disciple transmission.

Why does Suta Gosvami mention Vyāsa’s disciple in Canto 12 Chapter 7?

Suta is establishing the credibility and lineage of the Bhāgavatam’s preservation—showing it was studied through Vyāsa’s authorized students rather than being a later invention.

How can this teaching about paramparā be applied in modern spiritual life?

It encourages seekers to learn sacred texts through reliable teachers and traditions, valuing faithful transmission, context, and disciplined study rather than isolated interpretation.