Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 10

The Episode of Vena: Pṛthu’s Counsel, Royal Proclamation, and Brahmā’s Boon

Devanagari script

आदिदेश भटान्सर्वान्घोषध्वं भूतले मम । पापमेव न कर्तव्यं कर्मणा त्रिविधेन वै

Transliteration

ādideśa bhaṭānsarvānghoṣadhvaṃ bhūtale mama | pāpameva na kartavyaṃ karmaṇā trividhena vai

Translation

ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ଭଟମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆଦେଶ ଦେଲେ—“ମୋ ଭୂମିରେ ଘୋଷଣା କର: କର୍ମର ତିନି ପ୍ରକାର ଦ୍ୱାରା ମଧ୍ୟ ପାପ କରିବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ।”

Word by Word

• आदिदेश: commanded
• आदिदेश: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दिś् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• भटान्: soldiers/guards
• भटान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• घोषध्वम्: proclaim/announce
• घोषध्वम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: घोष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative), आत्मनेपद, मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• भूतले: on the earth/ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पापम्: sin
• पापम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negative particle)

• कर्तव्यम्: to be done (ought to be done)
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निषेधेन—‘must not be done’

• कर्मणा: by action/deed
• कर्मणा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• त्रिविधेन: threefold
• त्रिविधेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—त्रयः विधाः यस्य/त्रिविधम् (द्विगु-समास) used adjectivally with कर्मणा

• वै: indeed/certainly
• वै: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — emphasis/assurance

Speaker

Unspecified authority figure (contextual ruler/overlord speaking through attendants)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: dharma

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: भटान्सर्वान् = भटान् + सर्वान् (न् + स् → न्स); सर्वान्घोषध्वम् = सर्वान् + घोषध्वम् (न् + घ् → ङ्घ); पापमेव = पापम् + एव

FAQs

What are the “three kinds of action” (trividha karma) implied here?

Commonly, Purāṇic and Dharmic usage understands threefold action as sin or merit committed through body (kāya), speech (vāk), and mind (manas).

What is the ethical lesson of this verse?

It teaches comprehensive moral restraint: avoiding wrongdoing is not limited to physical acts, but also includes harmful speech and even intention or mental consent.

Does this verse reflect a Vaishnava theological emphasis or a general Dharmic rule?

This verse functions as a general Dharmic injunction (sadācāra/ethical discipline). In the Padma Purāṇa it can support broader devotional life, since purity of body, speech, and mind is treated as foundational for religious practice.