Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 18

Manifestation of the Śrī Vāsudeva Hymn in the Glory of Guru-tīrtha

Cyavana Narrative within the Vena Episode

Devanagari script

कर्तुं पुरुषशार्दूल कोऽयं विधिविपर्ययः । दुष्कृतं साहसं कर्म निंद्यं लोकेषु सर्वदा

Transliteration

kartuṃ puruṣaśārdūla ko'yaṃ vidhiviparyayaḥ | duṣkṛtaṃ sāhasaṃ karma niṃdyaṃ lokeṣu sarvadā

Translation

ಓ ಪುರುಷಶಾರ್ದೂಲ! ನೀನು ಮಾಡಲು ಹೊರಟಿರುವ ಈ ವಿಧಿ-ಧರ್ಮದ ವಿಪರ್ಯಾಸವೇನು? ಇಂತಹ ಸಾಹಸಕರ್ಮ ದुष್ಕೃತ; ಲೋಕಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸದಾ ನಿಂದಿತ.

Word by Word

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग; अर्थः—कर्तुं (to do)

• पुरुषशार्दूल: O tiger among men
• पुरुषशार्दूल: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास

• कः: what?/who?
• कः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• विधिविपर्ययः: reversal of proper rule
• विधिविपर्ययः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + विपर्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (विधेः विपर्ययः = inversion of rule)

• दुष्कृतम्: evil, wrongful
• दुष्कृतम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुष् (उपसर्ग) + कृ (धातु) → दुष्कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘ill-done/evil’

• साहसम्: rash, violent
• साहसम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साहस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• कर्म: act
• कर्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• निन्द्यम्: blameworthy
• निन्द्यम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निन्द् (धातु) → निन्द्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भाव्य/योग्य-अर्थे यत् (to be blamed)

• लोकेषु: in the worlds/among people
• लोकेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन

• सर्वदा: always
• सर्वदा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Unspecified (a moral admonisher addressing 'puruṣaśārdūla')

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कोऽयम् = कः + अयम् (विसर्ग-सन्धि); पदक्रमे ‘कः अयम् विधिविपर्ययः’ इति प्रश्नवाक्यम्।

FAQs

What is the central ethical message of this verse?

It warns against abandoning proper dharma (right conduct) and condemns reckless, impulsive actions as inherently blameworthy.

What does 'vidhiviparyaya' imply in context?

It indicates a turning upside-down of prescribed norms—acting contrary to established right procedure, morality, or duty.

Why is the action called 'nindya' (condemned) 'in the world'?

The verse frames dharma as socially and morally recognized: rash wrongdoing brings censure among people and is not upheld as righteous behavior.