Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 10

The Deeds of Sukalā (Vena Episode): Husband as Tīrtha & Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

कदा नैव मया त्याज्यं सामीप्यं ते द्विजोत्तम । तवच्छायां समाश्रित्य करिष्ये धर्ममुत्तमम्

Transliteration

kadā naiva mayā tyājyaṃ sāmīpyaṃ te dvijottama | tavacchāyāṃ samāśritya kariṣye dharmamuttamam

Translation

О лучший из брахманов, я никогда и ни в какое время не оставлю твоего общества. Укрывшись в тени твоей, я буду совершать высшую дхарму.

Word by Word

• कदा: when (ever)
• कदा: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक-कालवाचक (interrogative adverb of time)

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• एव: indeed/ever
• एव: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (Agent in passive sense/कर्तृ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• त्याज्यम्: to be abandoned
• त्याज्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्यज् (धातु) → त्याज्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (यत्-प्रत्यय/gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; 'to be abandoned'

• सामीप्यम्: nearness/proximity
• सामीप्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सामीप्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; here as object of 'tyājyaṃ'

• ते: your/of you
• ते: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• द्विजोत्तम: O best of Brahmins
• द्विजोत्तम: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विजानाम् उत्तमः), पुल्लिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• छायाम्: shadow
• छायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• समाश्रित्य: having taken refuge in
• समाश्रित्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्-आ-श्रि (धातु) → समाश्रित्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund) = 'having resorted to/taken refuge in'

• करिष्ये: I shall do
• करिष्ये: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (भविष्यत्/Future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• धर्मम्: dharma/duty
• धर्मम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उत्तमम्: supreme/excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (धर्मम्)

Speaker

Unspecified (a devotee/disciple addressing a Brahmin teacher)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: forest

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: नैव = न + एव; तवच्छायाम् = तव + छायाम्; धर्ममुत्तमम् = धर्मम् + उत्तमम्.

FAQs

What spiritual attitude is expressed by “taking refuge in your shade”?

It conveys śaraṇāgati—seeking protection and guidance under a respected teacher’s care, implying humility, trust, and willingness to be guided in dharma.

How does this verse emphasize the practice of dharma?

It links “highest dharma” with steadfast association (sāmīpya) with a virtuous guide, suggesting that proximity to the righteous supports one’s own righteous conduct.

What ethical lesson can be drawn from this statement?

Sustained commitment to good counsel and virtuous company is presented as a foundation for living well—one should not abandon uplifting association when pursuing the highest good.