Shloka 5
Droṇa’s Cakra-Śakaṭa Vyūha and the Protection of Jayadratha (द्रोणकृतः चक्रशकटव्यूहः)
व्यूढे देवासुरे युद्धे कृत्वा देवसहायताम् । चतुर्धा व्यभजत् सर्वा चतुर्भ्य: पृथिवीमिमाम्,देवासुरसंग्राम छिड़ जानेपर उन्होंने देवताओंकी सहायता करके नाना प्रकारके यज्ञोंद्वारा परमात्माका यजन किया और इस सारी पृथ्वीको चार भागोंमें विभक्त करके उसे ऋत्विज, अध्वर्यु, होता तथा उदगाता--इन चार प्रकारके ब्राह्मणोंको बाँट दिया। फिर शुक्रकन्या देवयानी और दानवराजकी पुत्री शर्मिष्ठाके गर्भसे धर्मतः उत्तम संतान उत्पन्न करके वे देवोपम नरेश दूसरे इन्द्रकी भाँति समस्त देवकाननोंमें अपनी इच्छाके अनुसार विहार करते रहे
vyūḍhe devāsure yuddhe kṛtvā devasahāyatām | caturdhā vyabhajat sarvāṃ caturbhyaḥ pṛthivīm imām ||
Nārada said: “When the battle between the gods and the asuras had been arrayed, he rendered aid to the gods. Thereafter he divided this entire earth into four portions and distributed it among the four priestly functions—ṛtvij, adhvaryu, hotṛ, and udgātṛ—thereby establishing a dharmic order in which sacrifice and sacred duty were properly supported.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even amid conflict (deva–asura war), dharma is upheld by supporting righteous order and sustaining the institutions of yajña. The fourfold distribution to priestly functions symbolizes structured responsibility and the ethical duty of patronage toward sacred work.
Nārada narrates that, once the gods and asuras were engaged in battle, a figure aided the gods and then apportioned the earth into four shares, assigning them to the four principal Vedic priestly roles—ṛtvij, adhvaryu, hotṛ, and udgātṛ—thus establishing an ordered sacrificial framework.