Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.12.37
मैत्रेय उवाच
ऋग्यजु:सामाथर्वाख्यान् वेदान् पूर्वादिभिर्मुखै: ।
शास्त्रमिज्यां स्तुतिस्तोमं प्रायश्चित्तं व्यधात्क्रमात् ॥ ३७ ॥
maitreya uvāca
[maitreya uvaacha]
ṛg-yajuḥ-sāmātharvākhyān
[rig-yajuh-saamaatharvaakhyaan]
vedān pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ
[vedaan poorvaadibhir mukhaih]
śāstram ijyāṁ stuti-stomaṁ
[shaastram ijyaam stuti-stomam]
prāyaścittaṁ vyadhāt kramāt
[praayashchittam vyadhaat kramaat]
Word-for-word
maitreyaḥ uvāca
—
Maitreya said
ṛk-yajuḥ-sāma-atharva
—
the four Vedas
ākhyān
—
of the name
vedān
—
Vedic literatures
pūrva-ādibhiḥ
—
beginning with the front
mukhaiḥ
—
by the mouths
śāstram
—
Vedic hymns not pronounced before
ijyām
—
priestly rituals
stuti-stomam
—
the subject matter of the reciters
prāyaścittam
—
transcendental activities
vyadhāt
—
established
kramāt
—
one after another.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
maitreya uvāca
maitreyaḥ uvāca
Maitreya said
ṛk-yajuḥ-sāma-atharva
the four Vedas
ṛg-yajuḥ-sāmātharvākhyān
ākhyān
of the name
vedān pūrvādibhir mukhaiḥ
vedān
Vedic literatures
pūrva-ādibhiḥ
beginning with the front
mukhaiḥ
by the mouths
śāstram ijyāṁ stuti-stomaṁ
śāstram
Vedic hymns not pronounced before
ijyām
priestly rituals
stuti-stomam
the subject matter of the reciters
prāyaścittaṁ vyadhāt kramāt
prāyaścittam
transcendental activities
vyadhāt
established
kramāt
one after another.
Maitreya said: Beginning from the front face of Brahmā, gradually the four Vedas — Ṛk, Yajur, Sāma and Atharva — became manifest. Thereafter, Vedic hymns which had not been pronounced before, priestly rituals, the subject matters of the recitation, and transcendental activities were all established, one after another.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Maitreya said: From Brahmā’s eastern mouth the Ṛg Veda and activities of the hotā were established. From his southern mouth the Yajur Veda and activities of the Aahvaryu were established. From his western mouth the Sāma Veda and the activities of the udgātā were established. From his northern mouth the Atharva Veda and the activities of the brahma were established.
This verse describes the creation of the four hotas. The action of the hotā is śastra, chanting of mantras without intonation (following Ṛg-veda). The action of the adhvayu is sacrificial performance (ījya) (following Yajur-veda). Singing verses (stuti-stomam) is the action of the udgātā (following Sāma-veda). This takes the form of trivṛt-stoma. The action of the brahma (following Atharva-veda) is remedial measure.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The four Vedas emerge in sequence from Brahmā's four mouths, followed by hymns, rituals, recitation, and transcendental activities. Wisdom unfolds in layered order — knowledge, then form, then practice. Each layer deserves its place.
Reflection Questions
- Am I rushing past one layer of spiritual learning (text, ritual, practice) to grab another?
- What ordered progression would deepen my study from text to lived activity?
My note
Source: vedabase.io