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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 9 · Liberation · 24 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 9 · Chapter 11: Lord Rāmacandra Rules the World
9.11.19.11.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 9.11.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.11.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

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

Translation

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

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Rāmacandra Donates His Kingdom

  1. 1

    Lord Rāmacandra gave the entire east to the hotā priest and the entire south to the brahmā priest.

  2. 2

    He gave the west to the adhvaryu priest and the north to the udgātā priest, who recited the Sāma Veda.

  3. 3

    His gifts extended in all four directions. In this way, Lord Rāmacandra donated His kingdom.

How it feels

Exile and separation → Loyalty and reunion. Duty, loss and sacrifice shape the dramatic center of this canto.

Chapters 10–12 of Canto 9: The pastimes of Lord Rāmacandra. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: Lord Rāmacandra Rules the World

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Lord Rāmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, performed various sacrifices by which to worship Himself, and at the end of these sacrifices He gave land to the hotā, adhvaryu, udgātā and brahmā priests. He gave them the eastern, western, northern and southern directions respectively, and the balance He gave to the ācārya.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. hotreunto the hotā priest, who offers oblations
  2. adadātgave
  3. diśamdirection
  4. prācīmthe whole eastern side
  5. brahmaṇeunto the brahmā priest, who supervises what is done in the sacrificial arena
  6. dakṣiṇāmthe southern side
  7. prabhuḥLord Rāmacandra
  8. adhvaryaveunto the adhvaryu priest
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 9.11

    In this verse: “reciter”, “recited”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 9.11

    In this verse: “kingdom”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What strikes me about the extent of Lord Rāmacandra’s giving?

Practice

Set aside one small gift today to support someone engaged in worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Rāmacandra Donates His KingdomThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 9.11.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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