Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 57
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
देवद्विज गवां भूमिं पूर्वदत्तां हरेत्तु यः । प्रनष्टामपि कालेन तमाहुर्ब्रह्मघातकम्
devadvija gavāṃ bhūmiṃ pūrvadattāṃ harettu yaḥ | pranaṣṭāmapi kālena tamāhurbrahmaghātakam
Wer Land wegnimmt, das einst den Göttern, den Brāhmaṇas oder den Kühen geschenkt wurde, selbst wenn diese Schenkung im Lauf der Zeit verloren oder verdunkelt wurde, der wird als Brāhmaṇa-Mörder erklärt, schuldig an brahma-hatyā.
Unspecified (narrative voice within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa discourse)
Concept: Sacred gifts—especially land granted to deities, brāhmaṇas, and cows—remain morally binding; usurping them is treated as brahma-hatyā in gravity.
Application: Honor inheritances and endowments meant for worship/charity; avoid benefiting from disputed temple or charitable lands; when uncertain, seek restitution or lawful return rather than exploitation.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn royal court where a scribe reads an ancient copper-plate grant, its letters half-worn by time, while a greedy claimant reaches for the marked boundary-stone. Behind, a serene temple deity and a brāhmaṇa with a cow stand as witnesses; a shadowy aura of sin coils around the usurper as if the very earth protests.","primary_figures":["a king/judge (rāja)","a brāhmaṇa recipient","a cow with calf","temple deity icon (Viṣṇu as presiding witness)","a land-usurper"],"setting":"village boundary near a small temple; boundary stones, palm-leaf records, copper-plate charter, sacred tulā/scale of justice motif","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit with ominous side-shadows","color_palette":["burnished gold","earth-ochre","deep maroon","smoke-gray","sandalwood beige"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a South Indian temple-front court scene with Viṣṇu as divine witness in a small sanctum, gold leaf halo and arch, gem-studded ornaments; a brāhmaṇa holding a copper-plate grant beside a gentle cow; the usurper reaching toward a boundary stone, rendered with darker tones; rich reds and greens, ornate pillars, intricate floral borders, heavy gold leaf embellishment emphasizing dharma’s radiance.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical rural boundary scene with delicate linework—soft hills, a small shrine, a brāhmaṇa and cow in calm poise; a local ruler seated on a carpet hearing the dispute; the usurper’s anxious posture contrasted with serene witnesses; cool natural palette, refined faces, subtle cloud bands suggesting moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and temple-wall composition—central Viṣṇu icon with radiant aura, flanked by brāhmaṇa and cow; below, the act of land-grab shown as a narrative vignette; strong red/yellow/green pigments, stylized eyes, rhythmic ornamentation, dharma symbols (conch, discus) framing the warning.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a devotional tableau where Śrī Viṣṇu’s presence sanctifies the land-gift—lotus borders, intricate floral vines; cows and calves near a shrine; the boundary stone garlanded; the usurper depicted at the edge in muted tones; deep blues and gold with detailed textile patterns, emphasizing sacred ownership and protection."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low conch drone","murmur of a court assembly","distant cowbells","brief silence after the word brahma-ghātakam"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हरेत्तु = हरेत् तु; प्रनष्टामपि = प्रनष्टाम् अपि; तमाहुः = तम् आहुः
FAQs
It teaches that retracting or seizing what has been rightfully donated—especially land dedicated to gods, brāhmaṇas, or the welfare of cows—is a grave violation of dharma, treated as an extremely serious sin.
It emphasizes that the moral force of a legitimate donation does not expire: even if records, boundaries, or possession have become unclear over time, taking it back is still condemned.
Brahmaghātaka literally means “killer of a brāhmaṇa,” and in dharma literature it denotes the bearer of brahma-hatyā—one of the most severe categories of sin—used here to stress the seriousness of confiscating sacred or protected gifts.