Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 37
Dialogue of Gobhila and Padmāvatī: Daitya Obstruction vs. the Power of Pativratā Dharma
विधिहीनं प्रकुर्वंति दानवा ज्ञानवर्जिताः । अन्यायेन व्रजंत्येते मानवा विधिवर्जिताः
vidhihīnaṃ prakurvaṃti dānavā jñānavarjitāḥ | anyāyena vrajaṃtyete mānavā vidhivarjitāḥ
Tanpa vidhi yang benar, kaum Dānava bertindak tanpa pengetahuan sejati. Demikian juga manusia-manusia ini—tanpa tatacara yang lurus—melangkah di jalan kezaliman dan ketidakadilan.
Unknown (verse provided without surrounding dialogue context)
Concept: Dharma requires vidhi (right injunction and method); action without right understanding degenerates into injustice.
Application: Before judging or acting, verify the ethical procedure: consult reliable guidance, avoid shortcuts, and ensure means match ends.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A twilight court of dharma: a stern, luminous judge-figure holds a palm-leaf śāstra while shadowy Dānavas and confused humans move along a crooked road labeled 'anyāya'. In the background, a straight, lamp-lit path marked 'vidhi' leads toward a distant Viṣṇu temple spire, suggesting the corrective pull of sacred order.","primary_figures":["Dānavas (shadowed figures)","humans in disarray","a dharma-judge/sage holding śāstra","a distant Viṣṇu temple silhouette"],"setting":"Ancient royal court merging into a symbolic crossroads outside a temple town; one road straight and lamp-lined, the other jagged and dark.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky indigo","burnished gold","deep maroon","ash gray","saffron"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a dharma-judge seated on a jeweled throne holding palm-leaf śāstra, gold leaf halo and ornate arch; to one side, dark-toned Dānavas and misguided men on a crooked 'anyāya' path; to the other, a straight lamp-lit 'vidhi' path leading to a small Viṣṇu shrine, rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, heavy gold leaf detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical crossroads scene at dusk with delicate brushwork; a sage-judge points to a straight path lined with tiny oil lamps toward a distant temple; shadowy figures drift toward a rocky crooked path; cool indigo sky, refined faces, subtle moral symbolism, gentle Himalayan-like hills in the distance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and temple-wall composition; central authoritative judge with large expressive eyes holding śāstra; left panel shows chaotic asuric figures, right panel shows orderly devotees walking with lamps; natural pigment palette dominated by red, yellow, green, with gold accents.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a symbolic moral tableau framed by lotus and floral borders; central śāstra and lamp motifs; a distant Srinathji/Viṣṇu shrine at the top; devotees on the 'vidhi' path with peacocks and cows near the shrine, while the 'anyāya' path is darker with thorny vines; deep blues and gold with intricate ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low drum pulse","conch shell (distant)","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विधिहीनं = विधि + हीनम् (तत्पुरुष); ज्ञानवर्जिताः = ज्ञान + वर्जिताः; व्रजंत्येते = व्रजन्ति + एते.
FAQs
It warns that actions done without vidhi (right injunction, discipline, and proper method) and without jñāna (discernment) tend to become adharma—manifesting as injustice and moral decline.
The verse draws a moral comparison: when humans abandon proper conduct and understanding, they mirror the impulsive, unrighteous behavior stereotypically attributed to Dānavas.
Vidhi can include both: correct religious/ritual procedure and the broader sense of rightful discipline and normative conduct. The verse uses it as a marker of ordered, dharmic action rather than chaotic or self-serving behavior.