Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 159

Puṣkara Mahatmya: Brahmā’s Lotus-Tīrtha, Sacrifice, Initiation, and Kṣetra-Dharma

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच । भगवन्केन विधिना अरण्ये पुष्करे नरैः । ब्रह्मलोकमभीप्सद्भिर्वस्तव्यं क्षेत्रवासिभिः

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | bhagavankena vidhinā araṇye puṣkare naraiḥ | brahmalokamabhīpsadbhirvastavyaṃ kṣetravāsibhiḥ

Translation

ભીષ્મ બોલ્યા—હે ભગવન! બ્રહ્મલોક મેળવવા ઇચ્છતા ક્ષેત્રવાસી નરોએ પુષ્કરના અરણ્યમાં કઈ વિધિ પ્રમાણે વસવું જોઈએ?

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhīṣma
• भीष्मः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भगवन्: O Lord/Venerable one
• भगवन्: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• केन: by what (means)
• केन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन (interrogative)

• विधिना: by what rule/method
• विधिना: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• अरण्ये: in the forest
• अरण्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पुष्करे: at Puṣkara
• पुष्करे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन (स्थाननाम)

• नरैः: by men/people
• नरैः: Kartr/Agent (कर्ता-समूह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्म-लोकम्: Brahmaloka
• ब्रह्म-लोकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः लोकः)

• अभीप्सद्भिः: by those desiring (to attain)
• अभीप्सद्भिः: Kartr/Agent (कर्ता-समूह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-ईप्स् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्ययः); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (desiring)

• वस्तव्यम्: should be resided (one must dwell)
• वस्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययः तव्यत् (gerundive/obligative); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; 'must be dwelt/one should reside'

• क्षेत्र-वासिभिः: by the residents of the sacred place
• क्षेत्र-वासिभिः: Kartr/Agent (कर्ता-समूह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रे वासिनः)

Speaker

Bhīṣma

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: भगवन्केन → भगवन् + केन (न् + क → ङ्क). ब्रह्मलोकमभीप्सद्भिः → ब्रह्मलोकम् + अभीप्सद्भिः (म् + अ → मा).

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Pushkara
• Brahmaloka
• Brahma

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the geography of sacred Tirthas?

It identifies Puṣkara as a sacred kṣetra with an associated araṇya (forest precinct), implying that pilgrimage includes not only a lake or shrine but an entire consecrated landscape meant for disciplined residence.

How does this verse emphasize the path of Bhakti?

Rather than presenting attainment as purely theoretical, Bhīṣma asks for a lived religious method (vidhi) in a holy place—highlighting devotion expressed through regulated practice, reverent residence, and intentional aspiration (abhīpsā).

What is the ethical lesson from this dialogue?

Spiritual goals should be pursued through proper conduct and prescribed discipline, not mere desire; the verse models humility by seeking guidance on right practice before claiming spiritual merit.