Canto 1 - Boyhood
Bāla-kāṇḍa
Chapter 14: The Aśvamedha Sacrifice
Text 1.14.43
प्राचीं होत्रे ददौ राजा दिशं स्वकुलवर्धनः।
अध्वर्यवे प्रतीचीं तु ब्रह्मणे दक्षिणां दिशम्॥
prācīṁ hotre dadau rājā diśaṁ sva-kula-vardhanaḥ
adhvaryave pratīcīṁ tu brahmaṇe dakṣiṇāṁ diśam
prācīm = the eastern; hotre = to the hotā priest; dadau = gave; rājā = King Daśaratha; diśaṁ = portion of his kingdom; sva-kula-vardhanaḥ = the enhancer of the dynasty of Ikṣvāku; adhvaryave = to the adhvaryu priest; pratīcīm tu = the western portion; brahmaṇe = to the brahmā priest; dakṣiṇām diśam = and the southern portion.
King Daśaratha, the enhancer of the dynasty of Ikṣvāku, gave the eastern portion of his kingdom to the Hotā priest, the western portion to the Adhvaryu priest, and the southern portion to the Brahmā priest.
Sage Vālmīki then describes the gifting of dakṣiṇā to the sacrificial priests by the king. It is appropriate that abundant charity be given by descendants of King Ikṣvāku.