Shloka 24

Pṛthu’s Earth-Milking, the Etymology of ‘Pṛthivī,’ and the Vaivasvata (Solar) Genealogy

Devanagari script

गंधर्वैश्च पुनर्दुग्धा वसुधा साप्सरोगणैः । वत्सं चित्ररथं कृत्वा गंधान्पद्मदले तथा

Transliteration

gaṃdharvaiśca punardugdhā vasudhā sāpsarogaṇaiḥ | vatsaṃ citrarathaṃ kṛtvā gaṃdhānpadmadale tathā

Translation

ಮತ್ತೆ ಗಂಧರ್ವರು ಅಪ್ಸರೋಗಣಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ವಸुधೆಯನ್ನು ದೋಹಿಸಿದರು; ಚಿತ್ರರಥನನ್ನು ವತ್ಸವನ್ನಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿ ಸುಗಂಧಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರತೆಗೆದು ಪದ್ಮದಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಗ್ರಹಿಸಿದರು.

Word by Word

• gandharvaiḥ: by the Gandharvas
• gandharvaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (adverb: again)

• dugdhā: was milked
• dugdhā: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duh (धातु) + ktā (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• vasudhā: the Earth
• vasudhā: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Feminine, Nominative, Singular)

• sa-apsaraḥ-gaṇaiḥ: by the groups with Apsarases
• sa-apsaraḥ-gaṇaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/अव्यय ‘with’) + apsaras (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (‘with the Apsarases’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Instrumental, Plural)

• vatsam: the calf
• vatsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• citraratham: Citraratha
• citraratham: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citraratha (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• kṛtvā: having made
• kṛtvā: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛ (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having made’

• gandhān: fragrances
• gandhān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• padma-dale: in a lotus-leaf (vessel)
• padma-dale: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + dala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Locative, Singular)

• tathā: thus, likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: thus/also)

Speaker

Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (narrative voice continuing the creation/"milking of the Earth" account).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: गंधर्वैश्च = गंधर्वैः + च; पुनर्दुग्धा = पुनः + दुग्धा; साप्सरोगणैः = स + अप्सरः + गणैः (अव्ययीभाव); गंधान्पद्मदले = गंधान् + पद्मदले; पद्मदले = पद्म + दले (तत्पुरुष).

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Apsarases
• Vasudhā (Earth)
• Citraratha

FAQs

Why does the Padma Purana describe the Earth being "milked"?

It is a symbolic creation motif: different beings "milk" the Earth to obtain particular substances, showing that nature yields distinct resources according to the seeker’s role and method.

Who is Citraratha in this verse?

Citraratha is traditionally the chief/king of the Gandharvas; here he is made the "calf" (vatsa) to enable the Gandharvas to draw out the desired essence—fragrance.

What is the significance of collecting fragrances in a lotus-leaf?

The lotus-leaf evokes purity and ritual propriety; it suggests that even sensual essences like perfume are framed within a sacred, orderly cosmology.