Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 22
Pitṛmātṛtīrtha Greatness & the Discourse on Embodiment: Karma, Birth, Impurity, and Dispassion
हृत्पद्मे प्रतिबद्धाश्च सर्वनाड्यः समंततः । तासां मुखेषु तं सूक्ष्मं प्राणः स्थापयते रसम्
hṛtpadme pratibaddhāśca sarvanāḍyaḥ samaṃtataḥ | tāsāṃ mukheṣu taṃ sūkṣmaṃ prāṇaḥ sthāpayate rasam
Todas as nāḍīs estão presas por toda parte no lótus do coração; em suas aberturas, o prāṇa estabelece essa essência sutil (rasa).
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 66).
Concept: The heart-lotus is the central nexus of nāḍīs; prāṇa places subtle rasa at their mouths—life is organized around an inner sacred center.
Application: Practice japa and meditation focusing on the heart-lotus; cultivate calm breathing and sāttvika living to keep prāṇa steady and mind devotional.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant lotus blooms within the chest, its petals forming a sanctum where countless nāḍīs radiate outward like golden threads. At the lotus center, prāṇa appears as a subtle luminous figure placing droplets of shining ‘rasa’ at the mouths of the channels, as if distributing sacred nectar through a divine network.","primary_figures":["Heart-lotus (Hṛt-padma)","Prāṇa (luminous subtle being)","Nāḍīs (as radiant channels)"],"setting":"Inner sanctum of the body visualized as a temple-garbha-gṛha, with the heart-lotus as the altar and nāḍīs as corridors of light.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","radiant gold","sapphire blue","milk white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a large heart-lotus sanctum with thick gold leaf petals, nāḍīs as gold filigree radiating in all directions, prāṇa as a small deity-like figure offering pearl-like rasa droplets; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments on the lotus center, traditional South Indian sacred geometry framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical heart-lotus with soft pink petals, fine golden lines for nāḍīs spreading like vines, prāṇa as a delicate luminous attendant placing tiny nectar drops; cool blues and whites, refined facial features if personified, gentle Himalayan-mist ambience translated into inner-space serenity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined lotus with layered petals, nāḍīs as patterned bands, prāṇa figure with characteristic large eyes and flowing ribbons; natural pigment palette (red/yellow/green/blue), temple-wall symmetry, ornamental borders of lotus and conch.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: heart-lotus as central mandala with many radiating vine-like nāḍīs, nectar droplets like pearls; intricate floral borders, deep indigo background with gold highlights, lotus motifs repeated, devotional textile richness transforming yogic anatomy into sacred ornament."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","soft bell shimmer","gentle breath","distant conch","deep silence at the end"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: hṛtpadme = hṛt-padme. pratibaddhāśca = pratibaddhāḥ + ca. sarvanāḍyaḥ = sarva-nāḍyaḥ.
FAQs
It refers to the subtle inner heart-center described in yogic and Purāṇic physiology, envisioned as a lotus-like hub from which subtle channels (nāḍīs) extend.
Nāḍīs are subtle conduits through which vital functions are said to move. Their “openings” indicate points where prāṇa is described as depositing or activating a subtle essence (rasa) to sustain inner vitality.
The verse presents prāṇa as the organizing life-force that maintains subtle vitality; it implies that inner life is coordinated through an unseen network rather than only through gross physical processes.