Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 3
Womb-Suffering and the Path to Liberation
Dialogue of Wisdom, Meditation, and Discernment
दुःखेन महताविष्टो ज्ञानमाह प्रपीडितः । आत्मोवाच । तव वाक्यं महाप्राज्ञ न कृतं तु मया तदा
duḥkhena mahatāviṣṭo jñānamāha prapīḍitaḥ | ātmovāca | tava vākyaṃ mahāprājña na kṛtaṃ tu mayā tadā
ຖືກທຸກຂ໌ໃຫຍ່ຄອບງຳ ແລະຖືກຄວາມຄັບແຄ້ນບີບຄັ້ນ ຍານະຈຶ່ງເວົ້າ. ອາດມັນກ່າວວ່າ: “ໂອ ມຸນີຜູ້ມີປັນຍາຍິ່ງ ໃນເວລານັ້ນ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າບໍ່ໄດ້ປະພຶດຕາມຖ້ອຍຄໍາຂອງທ່ານ.”
Ātmā (the Self), within a dialogue where Jñāna is also speaking (personified)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: महताविष्टो = महता + आविष्टः; ज्ञानमाह = ज्ञानम् + आह; आत्मोवाच = आत्मा + उवाच; ह्रस्व/दीर्घ-सन्धि तथा विसर्ग-लोपानुसार।
FAQs
The verse explicitly marks “ātmovāca” (“the Self said”). The Self addresses a “mahāprājña” (a greatly wise person/sage), acknowledging that the sage’s advice was not followed earlier.
It emphasizes accountability: suffering prompts reflection, and one should heed wise counsel in time rather than regret neglecting it later.
By contrasting distress with awakened reflection, it frames inner discernment (ātma-jñāna) as arising through remorse and correction—an impetus to realign conduct with dharma and guidance.