Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 22
Indra’s Purification and the Limits of Pilgrimage: Four Sinners Seek Release
वृक्षच्छायां समाश्रित्यदह्यमानेन चेतसा । संस्थितो विदुरः पापो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः
vṛkṣacchāyāṃ samāśrityadahyamānena cetasā | saṃsthito viduraḥ pāpo duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ
వృక్షఛాయను ఆశ్రయించి, అంతరంగమున దహించుచున్న చిత్తముతో, పాపి విదురుడు దుఃఖశోకములతో నిండినవాడై అక్కడ నిలిచెను.
Narrator (contextual third-person description within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narrative)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: forest
Sandhi Resolution Notes: samāśrityadahyamānena = samāśritya + dahyamānena; vṛkṣacchāyām = vṛkṣa-chāyām; duḥkhaśokasamanvitaḥ = duḥkha-śoka-samanvitaḥ.
FAQs
It portrays intense inner torment—“a mind burning”—combined with outward withdrawal (taking shelter under a tree) and a heavy burden of grief and sorrow.
It suggests remorse, anxiety, or moral anguish—an inner consequence of wrongdoing or painful circumstances—often used in Purāṇic literature to indicate the need for repentance, counsel, or a turn toward dharma.
It signals exhaustion and seeking relief, but also symbolic retreat: stepping aside from action to face inner suffering, reflect, and prepare for a change in conduct or understanding.