Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 38
Dialogue of Gobhila and Padmāvatī: Daitya Obstruction vs. the Power of Pativratā Dharma
तेषां शासनहेत्वर्थं कृता एतेपि नान्यथा । विधिहीनं प्रकुर्वंति ये हि धर्मं नराधमाः
teṣāṃ śāsanahetvarthaṃ kṛtā etepi nānyathā | vidhihīnaṃ prakurvaṃti ye hi dharmaṃ narādhamāḥ
Ceux-ci aussi furent institués uniquement pour les contenir, et pour nulle autre raison : car ces hommes vils qui pratiquent le dharma le font sans égard à la règle et au juste procédé.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa Adhyaya 50 narrative)
Concept: Rules and sanctions are instituted to restrain those who perform 'dharma' without proper procedure, turning it into harm.
Application: Treat ethical guidelines as safeguards; when correcting others (or oneself), aim at restoring right method, not winning arguments.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A royal assembly where a dharma-king and a sage jointly inscribe edicts on palm leaves, while a line of offenders—men claiming 'dharma' yet acting wrongly—stand subdued. Above, a subtle Viṣṇu emblem (śaṅkha-cakra) glows, implying that restraint serves divine order rather than personal vengeance.","primary_figures":["dharma-king","court sage","offenders (narādhamāḥ)","scribes","symbolic Viṣṇu emblem"],"setting":"Palace court with carved pillars, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a visible boundary between orderly citizens and restrained offenders.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["antique gold","royal blue","palm-leaf beige","vermilion","dark umber"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dharma-king with gold leaf crown seated beside a sage; palm-leaf edicts and a glowing śaṅkha-cakra emblem above; offenders shown smaller at the bottom, subdued; rich reds and greens, heavy gold leaf, ornate jewelry and arch framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined court scene with delicate lines; king and sage in conversation over palm-leaf texts; offenders in a quiet row; soft dawn sky, cool blues and warm ochres, lyrical restraint rather than brutality.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal king and sage with bold outlines; stylized palm-leaf manuscripts; offenders depicted in simplified forms; dominant red/yellow/green palette with a luminous Viṣṇu symbol overhead.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central śaṅkha-cakra motif framed by lotus borders; below, a courtly tableau of king and sage establishing niyamas; decorative floral patterns, deep blue background with gold highlights, symmetrical composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["court ambience (murmur)","temple bells (faint)","palm-leaf rustle","conch shell (soft)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतेपि = एते अपि; नान्यथा = न अन्यथा; शासनहेत्वर्थम् is a compound (शासन-हेतु-अर्थम्).
FAQs
It teaches that corrective rules or restraints are instituted to regulate people who attempt “dharma” without proper standards—acting without due procedure, discipline, or guidance.
“Vidhihīna” implies conduct lacking prescribed method—whether ritual procedure, ethical discipline, or authoritative guidance—so the outward act may be called “dharma,” but it is performed improperly.
The verse warns that righteousness is not merely intention or appearance; disregarding proper norms and accountability degrades one’s moral standing, hence the sharp term “lowest of men.”