Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 22

Annadāna and the Obstruction of Viṣṇu-Darśana; Vāmadeva’s Teaching and the Vāsudeva Stotra Prelude

Devanagari script

आश्रमः शोभते पुत्र मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः । दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णं मृगव्रातैश्च शोभितम्

Transliteration

āśramaḥ śobhate putra munibhistattvavedibhiḥ | divyavṛkṣasamākīrṇaṃ mṛgavrātaiśca śobhitam

Translation

“Son, this hermitage shines with sages who know the truth; it is filled with celestial trees and further adorned by herds of deer.”

Word by Word

• आश्रमः: the hermitage
• आश्रमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• शोभते: shines, is splendid
• शोभते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पुत्र: O son
• पुत्र: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• तत्त्ववेदिभिः: knowers of reality
• तत्त्ववेदिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; मुनिभिः इति विशेषण; 'तत्त्वं वेदन्ति ये' (knowers of truth)

• दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णम्: filled with divine trees
• दिव्यवृक्षसमाकीर्णम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + समाकीर्ण (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (आश्रमः/आश्रमम्) इति विशेषण; 'दिव्यवृक्षैः समाकीर्णम्'

• मृगव्रातैः: with herds of deer
• मृगव्रातैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; 'मृगाणां व्रातैः' (herds of deer)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शोभितम्: adorned
• शोभितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ् (धातु) → शोभित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (आश्रमः/आश्रमम्) इति विशेषण

Speaker

Unspecified (a senior speaker addressing a son in a narrative dialogue)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: forest

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मुनिभिस्तत्त्ववेदिभिः = मुनिभिः + तत्त्ववेदिभिः; मृगव्रातैश्च = मृगव्रातैः + च

FAQs

What does this verse convey about an ideal āśrama (hermitage)?

It portrays the ideal hermitage as sanctified by the presence of tattva-vedī sages (knowers of truth) and as harmoniously integrated with nature—divine trees and peaceful wildlife.

Who are the “tattva-vedibhiḥ” mentioned here?

They are sages who have realized or correctly understood tattva—ultimate reality/principle—signifying spiritual authority rooted in insight rather than mere ritual status.

What ethical or spiritual lesson is implied by the imagery of deer and divine trees?

The imagery suggests non-violence, tranquility, and purity: a spiritually charged environment naturally becomes gentle and life-supporting, reflecting inner discipline and truthfulness.