Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 5

Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds

Devanagari script

रूपतेजः समायुक्तं सपत्नीसहितं प्रियम् । न वरं तादृशं कांतं सपत्नीविषसंयुतम्

Transliteration

rūpatejaḥ samāyuktaṃ sapatnīsahitaṃ priyam | na varaṃ tādṛśaṃ kāṃtaṃ sapatnīviṣasaṃyutam

Translation

रूपतेजःसमायुक्तं सपत्नीसहितं प्रियम्। न वरं तादृशं कान्तं सपत्नीविषसंयुतम्॥

Word by Word

• रूप-तेजः: beauty and splendor
• रूप-तेजः: Visheshya (Qualified noun/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्वः (इतरेतर): ‘रूपं च तेजश्च’ (collectively)

• समायुक्तम्: endowed with
• समायुक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ā-yuj (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘endowed/combined’

• सपत्नी-सहितम्: accompanied by a co-wife
• सपत्नी-सहितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapatnī (प्रातिपदिक) + sahita (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुष): ‘सपत्न्या सहितम्’ = accompanied by a co-wife

• प्रियम्: beloved (thing/person)
• प्रियम्: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘beloved/pleasant thing’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय = negation particle

• वरम्: better
• वरम्: Pradhana (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘better’

• तादृशम्: such
• तादृशम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; demonstrative adjective ‘such’

• कान्तम्: beloved (husband)
• कान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; ‘beloved/husband’

• सपत्नी-विष-संयुतम्: mixed with a co-wife’s poison
• सपत्नी-विष-संयुतम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sapatnī (प्रातिपदिक) + viṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃyuta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘सपत्न्या (दत्तेन) विषेण/सपत्नीविषेण संयुतम्’ = joined with co-wife’s poison

Speaker

Unspecified (contextual speaker not provided in the input excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: रूप-तेजः = रूपतेजः. सपत्नी-सहितम् = सपत्नीसहितम्. सपत्नी-विष-संयुतम् = सपत्नीविषसंयुतम्.

FAQs

What is the central teaching of this verse?

It warns that even desirable qualities (beauty, brilliance, affection) are undermined when domestic life is poisoned by co-wife rivalry; social conflict can negate apparent blessings.

Why does the verse compare a co-wife situation to “poison” (viṣa)?

“Viṣa” is a metaphor for the corrosive effects of jealousy, competition, and insecurity, which can destroy harmony and emotional well-being in a household.

Is this verse a general rejection of marriage or love?

No. It specifically critiques the suffering and ethical harm arising from rivalry between co-wives, emphasizing peace and stability as higher goods than outward attractiveness or status.