Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 9
The Supremacy of Food-Charity and the Rāma–Śambūka Episode
Child Revived through Rājadharma
भूयोपि श्रोतुमिच्छामि तन्मे वद महामते । पुलस्त्य उवाच । एतदाख्यानकं पूर्वमगस्त्येन महात्मना
bhūyopi śrotumicchāmi tanme vada mahāmate | pulastya uvāca | etadākhyānakaṃ pūrvamagastyena mahātmanā
“मैं इसे फिर से सुनना चाहता हूँ; हे महामति, मुझे वह कहिए।” पुलस्त्य बोले—“यह आख्यान पूर्वकाल में महात्मा अगस्त्य ने कहा था।”
Pulastya (as narrator); the preceding line is spoken by the listener/interlocutor addressing a ‘mahāmate’ (great sage).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: forest
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भूयोपि = भूयः + अपि; श्रोतुमिच्छामि = श्रोतुम् + इच्छामि; तन्मे = तत् + मे; पुलस्त्य उवाच = पुलस्त्यः + उवाच; एतदाख्यानकं = एतत् + आख्यानकम्; पूर्वमगस्त्येन = पूर्वम् + अगस्त्येन
FAQs
It frames the narration as a repeated request to hear and establishes a transmission lineage: Pulastya introduces the account as previously taught by the sage Agastya.
Mentioning Agastya functions as a traditional marker of authority and continuity, indicating the story is part of an earlier, respected sage-to-sage transmission.
It highlights śravaṇa (attentive listening) and repetition as valid means of deepening understanding—suggesting that sacred teachings reward renewed hearing and contemplation.