Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 28

Episode of King Vena: Deceptive Doctrine, Compassion, and the Contest over Dharma

Devanagari script

क्षणमात्रं प्रदृश्येत क्षणान्नैव च दृश्यते । तद्वद्भूतसमायोगः सर्वत्र परिदृश्यते

Transliteration

kṣaṇamātraṃ pradṛśyeta kṣaṇānnaiva ca dṛśyate | tadvadbhūtasamāyogaḥ sarvatra paridṛśyate

Translation

ଏହା କ୍ଷଣମାତ୍ର ଦିଶେ, ପରକ୍ଷଣେ ଆଉ ଦିଶେନାହିଁ। ସେହିପରି ଭୂତତତ୍ତ୍ୱମାନଙ୍କ ସଂଯୋଗ ମଧ୍ୟ ସର୍ବତ୍ର କ୍ଷଣଭଙ୍ଗୁର ଭାବେ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ହୁଏ।

Word by Word

• क्षणमात्रम्: for a mere moment
• क्षणमात्रम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण + मात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); कालपरिमाणवाचक (measure of time)

• प्रदृश्येत: might appear
• प्रदृश्येत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (सम्भावना/आज्ञा), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (Optative, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada)

• क्षणात्: from (the next) moment
• क्षणात्: Apādāna (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Ablative, Singular)

• न: not
• न: Negation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/at all
• एव: Emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दृश्यते: is seen/appears
• दृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Present, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada; Passive sense)

• तद्वत्: likewise/so
• तद्वत्: Upamāna (Comparison)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/तुलनावाचक)
• Form: तुलनार्थक-अव्यय (comparative particle: 'like that')

• भूतसमायोगः: the conjunction/combination of elements/beings
• भूतसमायोगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + समायोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• सर्वत्र: everywhere
• सर्वत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (Place/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• परिदृश्यते: is observed/seen all around
• परिदृश्यते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि√दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Present, 3rd person, Singular, Atmanepada; Passive sense)

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narration)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षणात् + न + एव → क्षणान्नैव; तद्वत् + भूतसमायोगः → तद्वद्भूतसमायोगः (द् + भ् → द्भ्)

FAQs

What philosophical idea is taught by comparing appearance and disappearance to the elements’ combination?

The verse teaches impermanence: composite things arise from temporary combinations of the elements and vanish quickly, so they should not be mistaken for lasting reality.

What does “bhūta-samāyoga” refer to in this context?

It refers to the conjunction of the pañca-bhūtas (earth, water, fire, air, and space) whose temporary mixing produces the changing forms we perceive in the world.

What ethical or practical lesson does this verse suggest for daily life?

Since things and situations are momentary and unstable, one should cultivate detachment (vairāgya), reduce clinging, and orient life toward enduring spiritual aims rather than fleeting appearances.