Shloka 57
Parīkṣit’s Final Absorption, Takṣaka’s Bite, Janamejaya’s Snake Sacrifice, and the Vedic Sound-Lineage
शाकल्यस्तत्सुत: स्वां तु पञ्चधा व्यस्य संहिताम् । वात्स्यमुद्गलशालीयगोखल्यशिशिरेष्वधात् ॥ ५७ ॥
śākalyas tat-sutaḥ svāṁ tu pañcadhā vyasya saṁhitām vātsya-mudgala-śālīya- gokhalya-śiśireṣv adhāt
शाकल्यो माण्डूकेयस्य सुतः स्वसंहितां पञ्चधा व्यस्य वात्स्य-मुद्गल-शालीय-गोखल्य-शिशिरेष्वधात्।
FAQs
This verse describes how a Saṁhitā was divided into multiple parts and entrusted to different schools, showing that Vedic preservation happens through organized lineages (śākhās) and transmission.
They represent the recipients (teachers/schools) who each maintained a portion of the Saṁhitā, indicating the branching of Vedic recensions for accurate safeguarding and teaching.
It encourages learning sacred teachings through reliable lineages, studying systematically, and responsibly passing on what one has learned without distortion.