Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 21
Paraśurāma Avenges Jamadagni; Restoration Through Sacrifice; Viśvāmitra’s Line and Devarāta (Śunaḥśepha)
ददौ प्राचीं दिशं होत्रे ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम् । अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं वै उद्गात्रे उत्तरां दिशम् ॥ २१ ॥ अन्येभ्योऽवान्तरदिश: कश्यपाय च मध्यत: । आर्यावर्तमुपद्रष्ट्रे सदस्येभ्यस्तत: परम् ॥ २२ ॥
dadau prācīṁ diśaṁ hotre brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṁ diśam adhvaryave pratīcīṁ vai udgātre uttarāṁ diśam
After completing the sacrifice, Lord Paraśurāma gave the eastern direction to the hotā as a gift, the south to the brahmā, the west to the adhvaryu, the north to the udgātā, and the four corners — northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest — to the other priests. He gave the middle to Kaśyapa and the place known as Āryāvarta to the upadraṣṭā. Whatever remained he distributed among the sadasyas, the associate priests.
The tract of land in India between the Himālaya Mountains and the Vindhya Hills is called Āryāvarta.
FAQs
This verse shows charity (dāna) done in an orderly Vedic way—Paraśurāma assigns the four quarters to the four principal ṛtviks, honoring their distinct sacrificial roles.
Because these four are the chief priests of a Vedic sacrifice, and the directions symbolize formal allotment of gifts and responsibility according to ritual function.
Give with structure and respect—support qualified teachers and spiritual service responsibly, matching gifts to genuine roles and needs rather than giving carelessly.