Shloka 60
Atithi-prāpti and the Brāhmaṇa’s Deliberation on Triadic Dharma (अतिथिप्राप्तिः धर्मत्रयविचारश्च)
एतद् वो लक्षण देवा मत्प्रसादसमुद्धवम् । स्वयं यज्जैर्यजमाना: समाप्तवरदक्षिणै:
etad vo lakṣaṇa devā matprasādasamudbhavam | svayaṁ yajjair yajamānāḥ samāptavaradakṣiṇaiḥ ||
“O gods, this is the distinguishing sign I grant you, born of my favor: that you yourselves, as sacrificers, may perform sacrifices and, having duly completed them, bestow the prescribed and excellent sacrificial fees (dakṣiṇā).”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links rightful ritual action with ethical completion: a sacrifice is not merely performed but must be properly concluded with due dakṣiṇā (gifts/fees). Divine status and auspicious “marks” are framed as arising from grace and from adherence to dharmic procedure—especially honoring obligations to officiants through prescribed giving.
Vaiśampāyana reports a statement addressed to the gods, describing a “sign/privilege” granted to them through the speaker’s favor: they are enabled to act as yajamānas (sacrificial patrons), performing sacrifices themselves and completing them with the appropriate, excellent dakṣiṇās.