Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 129
Pitṛmātṛtīrtha Greatness & the Discourse on Embodiment: Karma, Birth, Impurity, and Dispassion
जायते योनिकीटेषु मृतः कर्मवशात्पुनः । देहभेदेन यः पश्येद्वियोगं कर्मसंक्षयात्
jāyate yonikīṭeṣu mṛtaḥ karmavaśātpunaḥ | dehabhedena yaḥ paśyedviyogaṃ karmasaṃkṣayāt
Poussé par le karma, celui qui meurt renaît parmi les êtres nés du sein et même parmi les insectes. Mais celui qui, discernant la différence des corps, voit la séparation d’avec l’existence incarnée comme née de l’épuisement du karma, obtient la vraie connaissance.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 66)
Concept: Karma propels repeated birth across lower and higher forms; insight arises by discerning the body as a changing sheath and recognizing separation from embodied existence as tied to karma’s exhaustion—opening the door to liberation-oriented detachment.
Application: Reflect daily on impermanence of the body and consequences of actions; choose sattvic habits, avoid harm, and anchor identity in the soul’s relation to Viṣṇu rather than in transient embodiments.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A flowing ‘river’ of births winds across the canvas: from human life to animal forms to tiny insects, each emerging from a luminous karmic seed. At the center, a contemplative seeker holds a mirror-like disc reflecting multiple bodies cracking and falling away like shells, while a calm inner light remains unchanged—signifying discernment beyond embodiment.","primary_figures":["A seeker practicing viveka","Symbolic forms of rebirth (human, animal, insect)","Karmic seed/flame motif"],"setting":"A symbolic landscape blending earth and subtle realms: a winding path/river of life-forms, with a quiet meditation grove at the center.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["pearl white","emerald green","amber","midnight blue","earth brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central meditating seeker with gold leaf aura; surrounding concentric rings showing successive yonis—human, beasts, insects—painted as narrative medallions; gold leaf used to highlight the ‘karmic seed’ and the unchanging inner light; rich reds/greens and ornate borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant, story-like panorama with a winding stream representing saṃsāra; small, finely detailed creatures along the banks; the seeker seated under a tree with a reflective disc symbolizing deha-bheda; cool blues and greens with delicate linework.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined central yogin; stylized panels of rebirth forms around him; strong natural pigments, rhythmic patterning; the karmic chain depicted as a serpent-like band encircling the scene, broken near the yogin’s heart-light.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: mandala composition with lotus borders; central figure in contemplation; surrounding rings of life-forms rendered ornamentally; deep blue background with gold floral motifs; subtle Vaishnava symbols (chakra/śaṅkha) indicating the path beyond karma."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft cymbals","quiet silence between pādas","night insects (very faint)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: योनि-कीटेषु = योनिकीटेषु (तत्पुरुष); कर्म-वशात् + पुनः = कर्मवशात्पुनः; पश्येत् + वियोगम् = पश्येद्वियोगम्; कर्म-संक्षयात् = कर्मसंक्षयात् (तत्पुरुष).
FAQs
It states that rebirth happens under the compulsion of karma—even into very low forms of life—until karmic forces are exhausted.
It points to discriminative insight: recognizing the body as changeable and distinct across births, rather than the self being identical with any single embodiment.
It encourages detachment and right understanding of karma: by seeing embodied life as karmically conditioned, one cultivates dispassion and aims for karmic cessation rather than further entanglement.