Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 15

The Deception of Vṛtra

Devanagari script

वधार्थं देवदेवेन समाहूय महामुनीन् । सप्तर्षीन्प्रेषयामास वृत्रं दैत्येश्वरं प्रति

Transliteration

vadhārthaṃ devadevena samāhūya mahāmunīn | saptarṣīnpreṣayāmāsa vṛtraṃ daityeśvaraṃ prati

Translation

Afin d’abattre Vṛtra, le Seigneur des dieux convoqua les grands sages et dépêcha les Sept Ṛṣi vers Vṛtra, seigneur des Daityas.

Word by Word

• वधार्थम्: for the purpose of killing
• वधार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—वधस्य अर्थः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of slaying)

• देवदेवेन: by the god of gods
• देवदेवेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—देवानां देवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• समाहूय: having summoned
• समाहूय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + आ + हु (धातु) → समाहूय (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund): ‘having summoned’

• महामुनीन्: great sages
• महामुनीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—महान् मुनिः (कर्मधारय)

• सप्तर्षीन्: the seven sages
• सप्तर्षीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—सप्त ऋषयः (द्विगु)

• प्रेषयामास: sent forth, dispatched
• प्रेषयामास: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + इष् (धातु) (प्रेषयति—णिच्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative sense: ‘caused to be sent/sent’)

• वृत्रम्: Vṛtra
• वृत्रम्: Gati/Karma (Goal/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दैत्येश्वरम्: the lord of the demons
• दैत्येश्वरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—दैत्यानाम् ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); वृत्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रति: towards, against
• प्रति: Gati (Direction/गति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश-अव्यय/पूर्वसर्ग (preposition-like indeclinable: 'towards/against')

Speaker

Narratorial voice (contextual; specific speaker not explicit in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: वधार्थं = वध + अर्थम्; सप्तर्षीन्प्रेषयामास = सप्तर्षीन् + प्रेषयामास (न् + प्); देवदेवेन (समास); दैत्येश्वरम् (समास)

Characters & Entities

• Devadeva (lord of the devas)
• Mahāmunis (great sages)
• Saptarṣi (Seven Ṛṣis)
• Vṛtra
• Daityas

FAQs

Who is being sent toward Vṛtra in this verse?

The Seven Ṛṣis (Saptarṣi) are dispatched toward Vṛtra, described here as the lord of the Daityas.

What is the purpose of summoning the sages?

They are summoned “for the purpose of slaying” (vadhārtham) Vṛtra—implying a divinely guided, counsel-driven response rather than impulsive violence.

What ethical lesson is implied by the devas consulting sages?

The verse highlights that even powerful rulers should seek wise counsel and proceed according to dharma when confronting grave threats.