Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 42
The Deeds of Cyavana
in the Context of Guru-tirtha Glorification
भ्रूणहत्यां महाघोरां नाशयेत्कः समर्थवान् । राजद्रोहान्महापापं बहुपीडाप्रदायकम्
bhrūṇahatyāṃ mahāghorāṃ nāśayetkaḥ samarthavān | rājadrohānmahāpāpaṃ bahupīḍāpradāyakam
مَن ذا القادر على محو الخطيئة المروّعة جدًّا، خطيئة قتل الجنين؟ ومن (يقدر على إزالة) الخطيئة العظمى الناشئة عن خيانة الملك، وهي جالبة لكثير من الآلام؟
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa Adhyāya 90)
Concept: Some sins are socially and spiritually catastrophic because they violate protection (of life) and loyalty (to rightful order); the tradition still seeks a path of purification, implying dharma’s commitment to rehabilitation through sincere transformation.
Application: Treat vulnerable life and civic trust as sacred; avoid complicity in harm; if wrongdoing occurs, pursue accountability, restitution, and sustained ethical reform rather than quick absolution.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stark riverbank scene: a grieving mother’s silhouette and a broken cradle symbol appear as faint, sorrowful motifs, while a torn royal banner lies in the dust—emblems of bhrūṇa-hatyā and rāja-droha. In the center, a seeker kneels at sacred steps as the river glows with purifying light, suggesting that even the darkest karma can be faced through truth, repentance, and sacred discipline.","primary_figures":["Penitent seeker","River/tīrtha deity (symbolic)","Allegorical motifs: broken cradle, torn banner","Witnessing sage (optional)"],"setting":"Ancient ghāṭa with weathered stone steps, a small Viṣṇu shrine, and a wide river flowing steadily past signs of human sorrow","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["midnight blue","silver","stone grey","pale saffron","deep teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moonlit ghāṭa with silver-toned highlights and gold leaf on the tīrtha-deity’s halo; penitent centered in añjali; symbolic cradle and banner rendered as narrative emblems; ornate shrine with chakra/conch motifs; rich maroons and greens in textiles, embossed lotus borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: quiet nocturne by the river; delicate silver moon reflections; minimal figures with expressive restraint; symbolic objects (cradle, banner) placed subtly; cool palette with a thin saffron horizon; refined, contemplative mood.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: strong outlines; river as a stylized band with repeating wave motifs; central penitent and tīrtha-deity; emblematic cradle and banner in side medallions; warm ochres contrasted with deep blues; temple-wall ornamental framing.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central sacred river with lotus rosettes; symbolic medallions for cradle and banner at corners; intricate floral borders; deep indigo ground with gold and silver accents; devotional symmetry emphasizing purification and return to dharma."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","night insects","soft bell","long pauses (silence)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाशयेत्कः = नाशयेत् + कः; राजद्रोहान्महापापम् = राजद्रोहात् + महापापम्.
FAQs
It underscores that certain actions—harm to unborn life and betrayal of rightful authority—are treated as exceptionally grave and suffering-producing, prompting reflection on restraint and responsibility.
Not explicitly; it frames the gravity of the sins by asking who could remove them, typically setting up or reinforcing a later discussion on remedies, vows, or expiations.
By naming rāja-droha (treason) as a mahāpāpa, it reflects a dharma framework where social order and loyalty to just governance are moral concerns with serious karmic consequences.