Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 40

The Account of Sukalā: Chastity Overcomes Kāma and an Indra-like Trial

Devanagari script

एवं श्रुत्वा सहस्राक्षो मन्मथस्यापि सम्मुखम् । पश्य पौरुषमेतस्या युध्यस्व निजपौरुषैः

Transliteration

evaṃ śrutvā sahasrākṣo manmathasyāpi sammukham | paśya pauruṣametasyā yudhyasva nijapauruṣaiḥ

Translation

ଏପରି ଶୁଣି ସହସ୍ରାକ୍ଷ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ର, ମନ୍ମଥଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ମଧ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—“ଏହାର ପୌରୁଷ ଦେଖ; ନିଜ ପୌରୁଷରେ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କର।”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakāra (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb) — ‘thus’

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund) — ‘having heard’

• सहस्राक्षः: Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular; बहुव्रीहि ‘having a thousand eyes’ (इन्द्रः)

• मन्मथस्य: of Manmatha (Kāma)
• मन्मथस्य: Sambandha (Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्मथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle) — ‘also/even’

• सम्मुखम्: in front (of)
• सम्मुखम्: Deśa (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; नपुंसक-एकवचन-द्वितीया रूपेण क्रियाविशेषण — adverbial accusative ‘in front/present’

• पश्य: see/behold
• पश्य: Kriyā (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular

• पौरुषम्: manliness/valor
• पौरुषम्: Karman (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• एतस्याः: of this woman (her)
• एतस्याः: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन — Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• युध्यस्व: fight
• युध्यस्व: Kriyā (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद — Imperative, 2nd person, Singular (Ātmanepada)

• निजपौरुषैः: with your own valor
• निजपौरुषैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निज + पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Neuter, Instrumental, Plural; कर्मधारय ‘one’s own valor’

Speaker

Sahasrākṣa (Indra)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मन्मथस्यापि → मन्मथस्य + अपि; पौरुषमेतस्या → पौरुषम् + एतस्याः (म् + ए → मे); निजपौरुषैः is a compound (निज-पौरुषैः).

Characters & Entities

• Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• Manmatha (Kāma)

FAQs

Who is Sahasrākṣa in this verse?

Sahasrākṣa (“thousand-eyed”) is a common epithet of Indra, the king of the devas.

Why is Manmatha mentioned here?

Manmatha (Kāma) is invoked as a witness to the scene, emphasizing that the statement is made openly and directly, even before the deity associated with desire and attraction.

What ethical lesson does this verse convey?

It stresses facing challenges through one’s own courage and capability (nija-pauruṣa), rather than relying on indirect means or external advantage.