Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 37
Dialogue of Gobhila and Padmāvatī: Daitya Obstruction vs. the Power of Pativratā Dharma
विधिहीनं प्रकुर्वंति दानवा ज्ञानवर्जिताः । अन्यायेन व्रजंत्येते मानवा विधिवर्जिताः
vidhihīnaṃ prakurvaṃti dānavā jñānavarjitāḥ | anyāyena vrajaṃtyete mānavā vidhivarjitāḥ
Privés des prescriptions justes, les Dānava agissent sans véritable discernement. De même, ces humains—dépourvus de la bonne règle—s’avancent sur la voie de l’injustice.
Unknown (verse provided without surrounding dialogue context)
Concept: Dharma requires vidhi (right injunction and method); action without right understanding degenerates into injustice.
Application: Before judging or acting, verify the ethical procedure: consult reliable guidance, avoid shortcuts, and ensure means match ends.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twilight court of dharma: a stern, luminous judge-figure holds a palm-leaf śāstra while shadowy Dānavas and confused humans move along a crooked road labeled 'anyāya'. In the background, a straight, lamp-lit path marked 'vidhi' leads toward a distant Viṣṇu temple spire, suggesting the corrective pull of sacred order.","primary_figures":["Dānavas (shadowed figures)","humans in disarray","a dharma-judge/sage holding śāstra","a distant Viṣṇu temple silhouette"],"setting":"Ancient royal court merging into a symbolic crossroads outside a temple town; one road straight and lamp-lined, the other jagged and dark.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky indigo","burnished gold","deep maroon","ash gray","saffron"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a dharma-judge seated on a jeweled throne holding palm-leaf śāstra, gold leaf halo and ornate arch; to one side, dark-toned Dānavas and misguided men on a crooked 'anyāya' path; to the other, a straight lamp-lit 'vidhi' path leading to a small Viṣṇu shrine, rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, heavy gold leaf detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical crossroads scene at dusk with delicate brushwork; a sage-judge points to a straight path lined with tiny oil lamps toward a distant temple; shadowy figures drift toward a rocky crooked path; cool indigo sky, refined faces, subtle moral symbolism, gentle Himalayan-like hills in the distance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and temple-wall composition; central authoritative judge with large expressive eyes holding śāstra; left panel shows chaotic asuric figures, right panel shows orderly devotees walking with lamps; natural pigment palette dominated by red, yellow, green, with gold accents.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a symbolic moral tableau framed by lotus and floral borders; central śāstra and lamp motifs; a distant Srinathji/Viṣṇu shrine at the top; devotees on the 'vidhi' path with peacocks and cows near the shrine, while the 'anyāya' path is darker with thorny vines; deep blues and gold with intricate ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low drum pulse","conch shell (distant)","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विधिहीनं = विधि + हीनम् (तत्पुरुष); ज्ञानवर्जिताः = ज्ञान + वर्जिताः; व्रजंत्येते = व्रजन्ति + एते.
FAQs
It warns that actions done without vidhi (right injunction, discipline, and proper method) and without jñāna (discernment) tend to become adharma—manifesting as injustice and moral decline.
The verse draws a moral comparison: when humans abandon proper conduct and understanding, they mirror the impulsive, unrighteous behavior stereotypically attributed to Dānavas.
Vidhi can include both: correct religious/ritual procedure and the broader sense of rightful discipline and normative conduct. The verse uses it as a marker of ordered, dharmic action rather than chaotic or self-serving behavior.