Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 2

Lord Śiva Instructs the Pracetās (Śiva-stuti and the Path of Bhakti)

Devanagari script

हर्यक्षायादिशत्प्राचीं धूम्रकेशाय दक्षिणाम् । प्रतीचीं वृकसंज्ञाय तुर्यां द्रविणसे विभु: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

haryakṣāyādiśat prācīṁ dhūmrakeśāya dakṣiṇām pratīcīṁ vṛka-saṁjñāya turyāṁ draviṇase vibhuḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Vijitāśva offered the eastern part of the world to his brother Haryakṣa, the southern part to Dhūmrakeśa, the western part to Vṛka and the northern part to Draviṇa.

Synonyms

• हर्यक्षाय: to Haryakṣa
• हर्यक्षाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; proper name ‘to Haryakṣa’

• आदिशत्: assigned
• आदिशत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘assigned/ordered’

• प्राचीम्: the east
• प्राचीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘eastern quarter’

• धूम्रकेशाय: to Dhūmrakeśa
• धूम्रकेशाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धूम्रकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (धूम्रः केशः यस्य) ‘smoke-haired’ (proper name)

• दक्षिणाम्: the south
• दक्षिणाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘southern quarter’

• प्रतीचीम्: the west
• प्रतीचीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतीची (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘western quarter’

• वृकसंज्ञाय: to the one named Vṛka
• वृकसंज्ञाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक + संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘named Vṛka’ (वृक-संज्ञः)

• तुर्याम्: the fourth (north)
• तुर्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘the fourth quarter (north)’

• द्रविणसे: to Draviṇasa
• द्रविणसे: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रविणस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन; proper name ‘to Draviṇasa’

• विभुः: the mighty one/lord
• विभुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; epithet of the giver

Characters & Entities

• Haryakṣa
• Dhūmrakeśa
• Vṛka
• Draviṇa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about how the universe is administrated?

This verse shows that the Supreme Lord (vibhuḥ) appoints specific beings to oversee the directions, indicating divine, orderly administration under His control.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 24?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to King Parīkṣit.

How can devotees apply the teaching of ‘divine order’ in modern life?

By recognizing higher order behind responsibilities—performing one’s duties with discipline and devotion, seeing roles and directions of life as meant to be aligned with dharma and service to the Lord.