Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 180
Mārkaṇḍeya’s Birth and Boon; Puṣkara’s Glory; Rāma’s Śrāddha; Refuge-Hymn to Śiva
श्रुतपूर्वं च सुश्रोणि क्षेत्रस्यास्य विचेष्टितम् । अत्र क्षेत्रे जनास्सत्यं सर्वे हि स्वार्थतत्पराः
śrutapūrvaṃ ca suśroṇi kṣetrasyāsya viceṣṭitam | atra kṣetre janāssatyaṃ sarve hi svārthatatparāḥ
And, O fair-hipped one, you have indeed heard before of the remarkable ways of this sacred place. In this holy region, truly, all people are intent upon their own self-interest.
Unspecified (female addressee: “suśroṇi”); likely a male narrator speaking within a dialogue frame
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: tirtha
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षेत्रस्य+अस्य → क्षेत्रस्यास्य; जनाः+सत्यम् → जनास्सत्यम् (विसर्ग/सन्धि-परिवर्तन); स्वार्थ+तत्पराः → स्वार्थतत्पराः (समास).
FAQs
It remarks—somewhat critically—that even in a holy region, people may still be driven primarily by personal advantage rather than spiritual ideals.
“Suśroṇi” is a respectful epithet meaning “fair-hipped lady,” indicating the speaker is addressing a woman; the exact identity depends on the surrounding narrative context of Adhyaya 33.
Sacred geography alone does not guarantee virtuous behavior; inner intention matters, and one should not let self-interest dominate even in holy settings.