Shloka 3

Invocations, Definition and Authority of Purāṇa, Pulastya–Bhīṣma Frame, and the Creation–Dissolution Schema

Devanagari script

तमजं विश्वकर्माणं चित्पतिं लोकसाक्षिणम् । पुराणाख्यानजिज्ञासुर्व्रजामि शरणं विभुम्

Transliteration

tamajaṃ viśvakarmāṇaṃ citpatiṃ lokasākṣiṇam | purāṇākhyānajijñāsurvrajāmi śaraṇaṃ vibhum

Translation

পুরাণের পবিত্র আখ্যান জানার আকাঙ্ক্ষায় আমি সেই সর্বব্যাপী প্রভুর শরণ গ্রহণ করি—যিনি অজ, বিশ্বকর্তা, চিত্তের অধিপতি এবং লোকসমূহের সাক্ষী।

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (tam)

• विश्वकर्माणम्: whose work is the universe (all-doer)
• विश्वकर्माणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य कर्म विश्वम् सः)

• चित्पतिम्: lord of consciousness
• चित्पतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चितः पतिः)

• लोकसाक्षिणम्: witness of the world
• लोकसाक्षिणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य साक्षी)

• पुराणाख्यानजिज्ञासुः: one desirous to know the Purāṇa narrative
• पुराणाख्यानजिज्ञासुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + जिज्ञासु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुराणाख्यानस्य जिज्ञासुः)

• व्रजामि: I go
• व्रजामि: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकारः (Present), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• शरणम्: refuge
• शरणम्: Gati-Karma (Goal/Object of motion/गतिकर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; गत्यर्थक-क्रियायां द्वितीया (शरणं व्रजामि)

• विभुम्: the all-pervading mighty one
• विभुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (tam)

Speaker

Narrator (invocatory verse / maṅgalācaraṇa at the opening of the discourse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुराणाख्यानजिज्ञासुः + व्रजामि → पुराणाख्यानजिज्ञासुर्व्रजामि (विसर्ग + व् → र्)

Characters & Entities

• Vibhu (the all-pervading Lord)

FAQs

Who is being praised in this verse as 'unborn' and 'witness of the worlds'?

The verse praises the supreme, all-pervading Lord (vibhu/Īśvara), described by universal attributes: unborn (aja), creator of the cosmos (viśvakarmā), and witness of all realms (loka-sākṣin).

How does this verse frame the purpose of the Padma Purana’s narration?

It states the narrator’s intent: to understand and transmit Purāṇic sacred accounts (purāṇākhyāna), beginning with an act of taking refuge in the supreme principle behind creation and cosmic order.

What ethical or spiritual lesson does this invocation convey?

It models humility and right orientation: learning sacred tradition should begin with surrender (śaraṇa) to truth/the divine, acknowledging a higher witness and source beyond personal ego.