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Shloka 2

Lord Rāmacandra’s Charity, Sītā’s Departure, and the Lord’s Return to Vaikuṇṭha

होत्रेऽददाद् दिशं प्राचीं ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां प्रभु: । अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं वा उत्तरां सामगाय स: ॥ २ ॥

hotre ’dadād diśaṁ prācīṁ brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṁ prabhuḥ adhvaryave pratīcīṁ vā uttarāṁ sāmagāya saḥ

Lord Rāmacandra gave the entire east to the hotā priest, the south to the brahmā priest, the west to the adhvaryu priest, and the north to the udgātā, the chanter of the Sāma Veda. Thus He donated His kingdom.

होत्रेto the Hotṛ priest
होत्रे:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootहोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; Dative singular (4th)
अददात्gave
अददात्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√दा (धातु)
Formलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person singular, active
दिशम्a direction/quarter
दिशम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd)
प्राचीम्eastern
प्राचीम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्राची (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with दिशम्
ब्रह्मणेto the Brahman (Brahmā)/Brahmā-priest
ब्रह्मणे:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; Dative singular (4th)
दक्षिणाम्the southern (direction)
दक्षिणाम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd)
प्रभुःthe lord (Rāma)
प्रभुः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)
अध्वर्यवेto the Adhvaryu priest
अध्वर्यवे:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootअध्वर्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; Dative singular (4th)
प्रतीचीम्western
प्रतीचीम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootप्रतीची (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with दिशम् (understood)
वाand/or
वा:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवा (अव्यय)
Formविकल्पार्थक अव्यय; disjunctive particle ‘or/and also’
उत्तराम्northern
उत्तराम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्तरा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd), agreeing with दिशम् (understood)
सामगायto the Sāmaga (chanter)
सामगाय:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootसामग (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी एकवचन; Dative singular (4th)
सःhe
सः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; Pronoun; Nominative singular (1st)
R
Rāma (Lord Rāmacandra)
H
Hotṛ
B
Brahmā priest (Brahmā)
A
Adhvaryu
S
Sāma-gā (Sāma singer)

FAQs

This verse lists the key officiants—Hotṛ, Brahmā, Adhvaryu, and the Sāma singer—and shows that each has an authorized role, even being assigned a specific direction, emphasizing orderly, dharmic performance of sacrifice.

The verse highlights ritual precision and cosmic order in yajña: each priest functions within a defined sphere, reflecting dharma and the structured harmony expected in Vedic worship under Lord Rāma’s leadership.

It teaches disciplined devotion—doing spiritual practices with clarity of roles, responsibility, and respect for proper method rather than casualness or confusion.