Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 44
Prologue to the Śivaśarmā Narrative with the Prahlāda Tradition
Variant-Resolution Frame
वेदशर्मोवाच । पश्य पश्य बलं देवि प्रभावं तपसो मम । मयाहूताः समायाता इंद्राद्याः सुरसत्तमाः
vedaśarmovāca | paśya paśya balaṃ devi prabhāvaṃ tapaso mama | mayāhūtāḥ samāyātā iṃdrādyāḥ surasattamāḥ
Vedaśarmā said: “Look, look, O Goddess—behold the strength, the potency of my tapas. At my summons, the finest of the devas, beginning with Indra, have come here.”
Vedaśarmā
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदशर्मोवाच = वेदशर्मा + उवाच; मयाहूताः = मया + आहूताः.
FAQs
It portrays tapas as a spiritually efficacious force capable of compelling even major deities—Indra and others—to respond to a sage’s summons.
“Devī” functions as a respectful address to the female interlocutor, indicating a dialogue setting where Vedaśarmā is demonstrating the results of his austerities to her.
The verse highlights spiritual potency, but its boastful tone can also imply a caution: ascetic power should be guided by humility and dharma rather than pride.