Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 9.16.21-22
Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devoteesGenerous Gifts After the Sacrifice
“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.”
What the purport teaches
- After completing the sacrifice, Lord Paraśurāma gave the eastern, southern, western and northern directions to the hotā, brahmā, adhvaryu and udgātā respectively. He gave the four corners to the other priests.
- He gave the middle to Kaśyapa and Āryāvarta to the upadraṣṭā. The purport identifies Āryāvarta as the land in India between the Himālaya Mountains and the Vindhya Hills.
- Whatever remained, Lord Paraśurāma distributed among the sadasyas, the associate priests.
Try this today
Offer a small gift or practical help to someone who assists with worship.
Ask yourself
How can I show gratitude to those who help carry out worship?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.