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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class
9.16.209.16.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 9.16.21-22

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 9.16.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ददौ प्राचीं दिशं होत्रे ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम् ।

अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं वै उद्गात्रे उत्तरां दिशम् ॥ २१ ॥

अन्येभ्योऽवान्तरदिश: कश्यपाय च मध्यत: ।

आर्यावर्तमुपद्रष्ट्रे सदस्येभ्यस्तत: परम् ॥ २२ ॥

dadau prācīṁ diśaṁ hotre

brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṁ diśam

adhvaryave pratīcīṁ vai

udgātre uttarāṁ diśam

anyebhyo ’vāntara-diśaḥ

kaśyapāya ca madhyataḥ

āryāvartam upadraṣṭre

sadasyebhyas tataḥ param

Translation

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.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Generous Gifts After the Sacrifice

  1. 1

    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.

  2. 2

    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.

  3. 3

    Whatever remained, Lord Paraśurāma distributed among the sadasyas, the associate priests.

Key points from the purport
  • The tract of land in India between the Himālaya Mountains and the Vindhya Hills is called Āryāvarta.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Longing and conflict → Detachment and justice. Dynastic episodes explore personal desire and force.

Chapters 13–17 of Canto 9: Nimi, Purūravā and Paraśurāma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: Lord Paraśurāma Destroys the World’s Ruling Class

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thus Jamadagni got life again in his body, and later he was promoted to the higher planetary system known as Saptarṣi-maṇḍala. Paraśurāma, the son of Jamadagni, still lives in Mahendra-parvata.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 9.16
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dadaugave as a gift
  2. prācīmeastern
  3. diśamdirection
  4. hotreunto the priest known as hotā
  5. brahmaṇeunto the priest known as brahmā
  6. dakṣiṇāmsouthern
  7. diśamdirection
  8. adhvaryaveunto the priest known as adhvaryu
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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

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I show gratitude to those who help carry out worship?

Practice

Offer a small gift or practical help to someone who assists with worship.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGenerous Gifts After the SacrificeThis 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 9.16.21-22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.