Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 10

The Story of Sudevā and Śivaśarman (within the Sukalā Narrative): Pride, Neglect, and Household Discipline

Devanagari script

वसति स्म द्विजः कोपि वसुदत्त इति श्रुतः । ब्रह्माचारपरोनित्यं सत्यधर्मपरायणः

Transliteration

vasati sma dvijaḥ kopi vasudatta iti śrutaḥ | brahmācāraparonityaṃ satyadharmaparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

ಅಲ್ಲಿ ವಸುದತ್ತನೆಂಬ ಹೆಸರಿನಿಂದ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧನಾದ ಒಬ್ಬ ದ್ವಿಜನು ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ. ಅವನು ನಿತ್ಯ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಚರ್ಯಪರನಾಗಿ ಸತ್ಯಧರ್ಮಕ್ಕೆ ಪರಾಯಣನಾಗಿದ್ದ।

Word by Word

• वसति: dwells
• वसति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्म: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: स्म-निपात (particle) भूतार्थ/वृत्तान्तसूचक (often with present to indicate past narrative)

• द्विजः: a brāhmaṇa (twice-born)
• द्विजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कः: some
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चितार्थे ‘some’

• अपि: indeed/also (forming ‘someone’)
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) ‘also/even’; ‘कोऽपि’ = ‘someone’

• वसुदत्तः: Vasudatta
• वसुदत्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुदत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative)

• श्रुतः: was known (as)
• श्रुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्रसिद्धः/so heard’

• ब्रह्माचारपरः: devoted to celibate discipline
• ब्रह्माचारपरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्मचार + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘द्विजः’; ‘ब्रह्मचारे परः’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण (adverbial accusative) ‘always’

• सत्यधर्मपरायणः: wholly devoted to truth and righteousness
• सत्यधर्मपरायणः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य + धर्म + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ‘द्विजः’; ‘सत्यधर्मे परायणः’

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; specific dialogue speaker not stated in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कोपि = कः + अपि (ओऽवग्रह); ब्रह्माचारपरोनित्यं = ब्रह्माचारपरः + नित्यम् (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि); अन्यत्र स्पष्ट।

Characters & Entities

• Vasudatta

FAQs

Who is Vasudatta in this verse?

Vasudatta is introduced as a “dvija” (twice-born, typically indicating a brāhmaṇa) who is well-known for disciplined conduct, especially brahmacarya, and for commitment to truth (satya) and dharma.

What does the verse emphasize as ideal conduct?

It highlights brahmacarya (self-restraint/celibate discipline), satya (truthfulness), and dharma (righteous duty) as defining virtues of an exemplary person.

What is the ethical lesson conveyed here?

Moral excellence is framed as consistent practice—being “always” devoted to restraint, truth, and righteousness—rather than occasional or situational virtue.