Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 106

Umā’s Austerity, Kauśikī’s Manifestation, and Skanda’s Birth Leading to Tāraka’s Defeat

Devanagari script

मम गात्रच्छविभ्रांत्या मा शंकां पुत्र धारय । तुष्टेन गौरता दत्ता ममेयं पद्मजन्मना

Transliteration

mama gātracchavibhrāṃtyā mā śaṃkāṃ putra dhāraya | tuṣṭena gauratā dattā mameyaṃ padmajanmanā

Translation

O son, do not harbor doubt because of the radiance of my limbs. This fair complexion of mine was granted by the Lotus-born (Brahmā) when he was pleased.

Word by Word

• मम: of me, my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गात्र-छवि-भ्रान्त्या: due to confusion about (my) bodily complexion
• गात्र-छवि-भ्रान्त्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + छवि (प्रातिपदिक) + भ्रान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘confusion due to the complexion of (my) limbs’

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (prohibitive particle) used with imperative

• शङ्कां: doubt, suspicion
• शङ्कां: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्का (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• पुत्र: O son
• पुत्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक; संबोधन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• धारय: hold/entertain
• धारय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तुष्टेन: by the pleased one
• तुष्टेन: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुष्ट (कृदन्त; तुष् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; here instrumental of agent in passive sense

• गौरता: fairness (complexion)
• गौरता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरता (प्रातिपदिक; abstract noun from गौर)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• दत्ता: was given
• दत्ता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव: ‘was given’ (agreeing with गौरता)

• मम: to me / of me
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इयं: this
• इयं: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन

• पद्म-जन्मना: by Padmajanman (Brahmā)
• पद्म-जन्मना: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘lotus-born’ = ब्रह्मा (Brahmā)

Speaker

Unspecified in provided excerpt (a parent addressing a son within the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa narrative)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: गात्रच्छविभ्रांत्या = गात्र-छवि-भ्रान्त्या; ममेयं = मम इयं; पद्मजन्मना = पद्म-जन्मना.

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

What is the main point of this verse in its dialogue setting?

It reassures the son not to doubt based on outward appearance (radiance/complexion), explaining that the speaker’s fairness is a divine boon granted by Brahmā when pleased.

Which deity is explicitly mentioned and how is he described?

Brahmā is mentioned and described as padmajanman (“lotus-born”), a common epithet linking him to the lotus origin motif in creation narratives.

What ethical or spiritual lesson does the verse suggest?

It cautions against judging by appearances and frames bodily attributes as contingent gifts, encouraging humility and trust in the given explanation rather than suspicion.