Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

जातूकर्ण्यश्च तच्छिष्य: सनिरुक्तां स्वसंहिताम् । बलाकपैलजाबालविरजेभ्यो ददौ मुनि: ॥ ५८ ॥

Transliteration

jātūkarṇyaś ca tac-chiṣyaḥ sa-niruktāṁ sva-saṁhitām balāka-paila-jābāla- virajebhyo dadau muniḥ

Translation

Jātūkarṇya, đệ tử của Śākalya, chia saṁhitā nhận được thành ba phần, thêm phần thứ tư là nirukta, rồi truyền dạy cho Balāka, Paila thứ hai, Jābāla và Viraja.

Synonyms

• बाष्कलिः: Bāṣkali
• बाष्कलिः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाष्कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रति: for each / according to
• प्रति: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय; here governing sense ‘for each/according to’

• शाखाभ्यः: for the (various) branches
• शाखाभ्यः: सम्प्रदान
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाखा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अत्र चतुर्थी (for the branches)

• वालखिल्य: Vālakhilya
• वालखिल्य: सम्बन्ध
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालखिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-पूर्वपद; ‘Vālakhilya’ (name)

• आख्या: named
• आख्या: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आख्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास-उत्तरपद; (विशेषण) ‘named/called’

• संहिताम्: the saṁhitā
• संहिताम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: संहिता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वालखिल्याख्यसंहिताम्’

• चक्रे: made/compiled
• चक्रे: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• वालायनिः: Vālāyani
• वालायनिः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: वालायनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• भज्यः: the divider (Bhajya)
• भज्यः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भज्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/विशेषणार्थ (from भज्/भञ्ज् ‘to divide’), ‘divider/one who divided’ (epithet)

• काशारः: Kāśāra
• काशारः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: काशार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• एव: indeed
• एव: भाव-निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• ताम्: that (saṁhitā)
• ताम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; refers to ‘संहिताम्’

• दधुः: held/maintained (preserved)
• दधुः: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Jātūkarṇya
• Balāka
• Pailaja
• Jābāla
• Viraja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about preserving scriptures through parampara?

This verse shows knowledge being safeguarded by a teacher–disciple chain: Jātūkarṇya transmits his own recension, with explanations, to multiple students so the tradition remains intact.

Why does the verse mention that the Samhita was given 'with nirukta' (explanations)?

It emphasizes that authentic transmission includes meaning and clarification, not only the words—ensuring future students understand the text correctly.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Study sacred texts under reliable guidance, learn the intended meanings, and help transmit them responsibly—through teaching, careful citation, and faithful practice.