Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 38

Viṣṇu’s Māyā and the Stratagem Against Vihuṇḍa

with the Kāmodā–Gaṅgādvāra motif

Devanagari script

कामोदाख्यं पुरं तत्र निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा । कामोदपत्तने नारी दिव्यभोगैरलंकृता

Transliteration

kāmodākhyaṃ puraṃ tatra nirmitaṃ viśvakarmaṇā | kāmodapattane nārī divyabhogairalaṃkṛtā

Translation

ที่นั่นวิศวกรรมันได้เนรมิตนครนามว่า “กามทา” ในเมืองกามทานั้น มีสตรีผู้หนึ่งประดับพร้อมด้วยความรื่นรมย์และความโอ่อ่าดุจสวรรค์

Word by Word

• कामोदाख्यम्: named Kāmodā
• कामोदाख्यम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामोदा (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कामोदयाः आख्यं); विशेषण (qualifying पुरम्)

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• निर्मितम्: built/constructed
• निर्मितम्: Karma (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + मा (धातु) → निर्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुरम्)

• विश्वकर्मणा: by Viśvakarman
• विश्वकर्मणा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वकर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन

• कामोदपत्तने: in the town of Kāmodā
• कामोदपत्तने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामोदा (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कामोदयाः पत्तनम्)

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• दिव्यभोगैः: with divine enjoyments/pleasures
• दिव्यभोगैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (दिव्याश्च ते भोगाः)

• अलंकृता: adorned
• अलंकृता: Karta (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम् + कृ (धातु) → अलंकृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying नारी)

Speaker

Unspecified (narratorial voice within the ongoing dialogue context of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: city

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कामोदाख्यम् = कामोदा + आख्यम् (समास); कामोदपत्तने = कामोदा + पत्तने (समास); दिव्यभोगैः = दिव्य + भोगैः (समास); अलंकृता = अलम् + कृ + क्त (कृदन्त)

Characters & Entities

• Viśvakarman
• Kāmoda (city)

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the geography of sacred Tirthas?

It uses place-description (a named city, Kāmoda) as part of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa’s broader sacred-geography style, where locations are introduced with mythic origins and distinctive features.

How does this verse emphasize the path of Bhakti?

Indirectly: by portraying divinely fashioned settings and divine agency (Viśvakarman), it supports a worldview where sacred places and events are understood as shaped by higher powers—often forming the narrative backdrop for devotion.

What is the ethical lesson from this dialogue?

The verse highlights the allure of divine pleasures and ornamentation; in Purāṇic contexts this often serves as a reminder that splendor and enjoyment are contingent and bestowed, encouraging discernment rather than attachment.