Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 22
Vena’s Fall into Adharma and the Prelude to Pṛthu’s Birth
ब्रह्मवंशात्समुद्भूतो भवान्ब्राह्मण एव च । पश्चाद्राजा पृथिव्याश्च संजातः कृतविक्रमः
brahmavaṃśātsamudbhūto bhavānbrāhmaṇa eva ca | paścādrājā pṛthivyāśca saṃjātaḥ kṛtavikramaḥ
أنت من سلالة براهما، فأنت حقًّا براهمن؛ ثم وُلِدتَ بعد ذلك ملكًا على الأرض، وقد ثبتت شجاعتك بالأعمال.
Unspecified (context needed to identify the dialogue pair in Adhyaya 38)
Concept: One may be rooted in Brahmā’s lineage (brāhmaṇa identity) yet later assume kingship; dharma is to be upheld according to one’s role, with valor proven through deeds.
Application: Honor your origins and training, but accept life’s changing responsibilities; measure worth by conduct and protection of others, not by titles alone.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A single figure is shown in two temporal halves: on the left, as a young brāhmaṇa with sacred thread, holding a manuscript and water pot; on the right, as a crowned king with bow and sword, standing before the earth-map motif, signifying later kingship. Between the halves, a glowing thread connects them, symbolizing continuity of dharma across changing roles.","primary_figures":["The addressed person (brāhmaṇa-then-king)","Brahmā (as ancestral presence, faint in the background)","Court attendants and sages (as witnesses)"],"setting":"Split-scene: forest āśrama on one side; royal court/earthly battlefield threshold on the other.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["ochre","royal blue","burnished gold","forest green","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: diptych composition with gold leaf divider—left panel brāhmaṇa youth with yajñopavīta, kamandalu, palm-leaf text; right panel regal king with crown and weapons, ornate court backdrop; Brahmā faintly above with four faces, heavy gold leaf halos, rich reds and greens, jewel-like detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant split narrative with delicate brushwork—quiet hermitage scene transitioning to a refined palace terrace; subtle emotional continuity in the face; soft landscape and architectural details; restrained gold accents and cool shadows.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic two-aspect figure, bold outlines, flat pigments; left side ascetic symbols, right side royal regalia; Brahmā as a stylized upper register deity; dominant reds/yellows/greens with deep blue fields.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central figure with mirrored halves, lotus borders, decorative earth-mandala behind the king-half, floral motifs around the brāhmaṇa-half, deep indigo background with gold highlights, peacocks and lotuses framing the transformation theme."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["court drum (mṛdaṅga) softly","conch in distance","rustle of palm leaves","footsteps on palace stone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्रह्मवंशात्समुद्भूतः = ब्रह्मवंशात् + समुद्भूतः; भवान्ब्राह्मणः = भवान् + ब्राह्मणः (न् + ब् → न्ब्). पृथिव्याश्च = पृथिव्याः + च (विसर्ग/आः + च sandhi).
FAQs
It links spiritual lineage (being born in Brahmā’s line as a brāhmaṇa) with worldly authority (later being born as a king), presenting a model where sacred pedigree and proven valor coexist.
The wording “later” (paścāt) commonly fits Purāṇic narration of successive births or roles across time, indicating a later royal manifestation after a brāhmaṇa origin; precise interpretation depends on the surrounding story.
The verse implies that true authority is not merely inherited: kingship is validated by “kṛta-vikrama”—valor demonstrated through deeds—while also acknowledging the importance of sacred lineage and learning.