Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 109

Annadāna and the Obstruction of Viṣṇu-Darśana; Vāmadeva’s Teaching and the Vāsudeva Stotra Prelude

Devanagari script

दानमार्गं परित्यज्य लोभमार्गं गतो नृप । भार्यया सह भुंक्ष्व त्वं व्यापितः क्षुधया भृशम्

Transliteration

dānamārgaṃ parityajya lobhamārgaṃ gato nṛpa | bhāryayā saha bhuṃkṣva tvaṃ vyāpitaḥ kṣudhayā bhṛśam

Translation

ໂອ ພະຣາຊາ, ທ່ານໄດ້ລະທິ້ງເສັ້ນທາງແຫ່ງທານ ແລ້ວໄປຕາມເສັ້ນທາງແຫ່ງຄວາມໂລບ. ບັດນີ້ຈົ່ງກິນຮ່ວມກັບພຣະມະເຫສີ—ທ່ານຖືກທຸກທ້ອນໂດຍຄວາມຫິວຢ່າງໜັກ.

Word by Word

• दानमार्गम्: the path of giving
• दानमार्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• परित्यज्य: having abandoned
• परित्यज्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √त्यज् (धातु) + परि (उपसर्ग) + त्यज्य (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/क्त्वान्त अव्यय (पूर्वकाल) — absolutive ‘having abandoned’

• लोभमार्गम्: the path of greed
• लोभमार्गम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Accusative singular

• गतः: (you) have gone
• गतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (भूतार्थ) — past participle ‘gone’

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Vocative singular

• भार्यया: with (your) wife
• भार्यया: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakari (Accompaniment/सहकारि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सहार्थक उपपद — indeclinable ‘with’

• भुंक्ष्व: eat
• भुंक्ष्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भुज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद — Imperative 2nd sg

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Nominative singular

• व्यापितः: afflicted
• व्यापितः: Karta (Subject attribute/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यापित (कृदन्त; √व्याप् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — ‘pervaded/afflicted’

• क्षुधया: by hunger
• क्षुधया: Karana (Instrument/Cause/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुधा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — Instrumental singular

• भृशम्: greatly
• भृशम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक क्रियाविशेषण — adverb ‘excessively’

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual narrator/advisor addressing the king)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: hasya

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: दानमार्गं/लोभमार्गं = समास (दान-मार्गम्, लोभ-मार्गम्); भुंक्ष्व = √भुज् लोट् मध्यम एकवचन (विशेष रूप)

FAQs

What ethical contrast does this verse make?

It contrasts dāna (charitable giving) with lobha (greed), implying that abandoning generosity leads to suffering and moral decline.

Why does the verse mention eating with one’s wife?

It underscores household life (gṛhastha) and shared consequences: the king’s greed-driven choices affect the family, and the remedy offered is immediate, practical relief amid hardship.

What is the practical lesson for rulers and householders?

Sustaining generosity and restraint is portrayed as foundational to well-being; choosing greed invites deprivation, while dharmic conduct supports social and personal stability.