vaiśampāyana-śiṣyāḥ - the disciples of Vaiśampāyana; vai - indeed; caraka - named the Carakas; adhvaryavaḥ - authorities of the Atharva Veda; abhavan - became; yat - because; ceruḥ - they executed; brahma-hatyā - due to the killing of a brāhmaṇa; aṁhaḥ - of the sin; kṣapaṇam - the expiration; sva-guroḥ - for their own guru; vratam - the vow.

The disciples of Vaiśampāyana became authorities in the Atharva Veda. They were known as the Carakas because they executed strict vows to free their guru from his sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.