Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 22
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 describes how each principal ṛtvij is assigned a specific direction in the yajña—Hotṛ to the east, Brahmā to the south, Adhvaryu to the west, and Udgātṛ to the north—showing the ordered structure of Vedic sacrifice.
The verse indicates a disciplined, dharmic arrangement of the sacrifice where each priest performs his specialized function from an appointed position, emphasizing precision and sanctity in ritual worship.
It teaches focused responsibility—assigning clear roles and maintaining order—so that any spiritual practice (japa, kirtan, service) is done attentively and without confusion.