Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 11
Fruits of Righteousness: Charity, Faith, and the Path to Yama
देवायतनकर्ता च यतीनामाश्रमस्य च । अनाथमंडपानां च क्रीडन्याति गृहोत्तमैः
devāyatanakartā ca yatīnāmāśramasya ca | anāthamaṃḍapānāṃ ca krīḍanyāti gṛhottamaiḥ
ದೇವಾಲಯವನ್ನು, ಯತಿಗಳ ಆಶ್ರಮವನ್ನು, ಅನಾಥರಿಗಾಗಿ ಮಂಟಪ/ಧರ್ಮಶಾಲೆಯನ್ನು ನಿರ್ಮಿಸುವವನು—ಅತ್ಯುತ್ತಮ ಲೋಕಗಳನ್ನು ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ।
Unspecified (verse appears as part of a didactic passage; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue framework in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa).
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: temple
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यतीनामाश्रमस्य→यतीनाम् आश्रमस्य; अनाथमंडपानां→अनाथमण्डपानाम्; क्रीडन्याति→क्रीडन् याति.
FAQs
It praises constructing (1) deity-temples (devāyatana), (2) hermitages/retreats for renunciants (yatīnām āśrama), and (3) public halls/pavilions for the helpless or destitute (anāthamaṇḍapa).
The verse states that the doer “attains the highest abodes,” implying elevated heavenly or auspicious post-mortem states as fruit of dharmic public service.
Dharma is expressed through lasting, community-supporting service: supporting worship, supporting spiritual practitioners, and supporting the vulnerable through infrastructure that benefits many.