Shloka 154

Puṣkara Mahatmya: Brahmā’s Lotus-Tīrtha, Sacrifice, Initiation, and Kṣetra-Dharma

Devanagari script

अनुग्रहार्थं विप्राणां सर्वेषां भूमिचारिणाम् । सुवर्णवज्रपर्यंता वेदिकांका मही कृता

Transliteration

anugrahārthaṃ viprāṇāṃ sarveṣāṃ bhūmicāriṇām | suvarṇavajraparyaṃtā vedikāṃkā mahī kṛtā

Translation

เพื่อเกื้อกูลแก่พราหมณ์ทั้งปวงผู้ดำเนินอยู่บนแผ่นดิน ผืนดินนั้นจึงถูกเนรมิตให้เป็นแท่นเวทีกา ดุจฐานบูชา แผ่ไปจนถึงขอบเขตที่เป็นทองและวัชระ (เพชร)

Word by Word

• अनुग्रहार्थम्: for the sake of grace
• अनुग्रहार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुग्रह (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (अनुग्रहस्य/अनुग्रहाय अर्थम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक

• विप्राणाम्: of the brāhmaṇas
• विप्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (विप्राणाम्)

• भूमिचारिणाम्: of those who move on the earth / wanderers
• भूमिचारिणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक) + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (भूमौ चरन्ति इति); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• सुवर्णवज्रपर्यंता: extending up to gold and diamond
• सुवर्णवज्रपर्यंता: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (सुवर्णं च वज्रं च) + पर्यन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मही)

• वेदिकाङ्का: marked with an altar / having altar-marks
• वेदिकाङ्का: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेदिका (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वेदिकाया अङ्कः/चिह्नः यस्याः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (मही)

• मही: the earth / ground
• मही: Karma/Pradhāna (Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• कृता: was made
• कृता: Kriyā (Predicate, passive/resultative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + क्त (कृत्)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘made’

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa; immediate speaker not identifiable from the single verse alone)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: tirtha

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: अनुग्रहार्थं = अनुग्रह + अर्थम्; वेदिकांका = वेदिका + अङ्का (दीर्घ/अनुस्वार-लोप लेख्यभेद); समास: सुवर्ण-वज्र-पर्यंता, भूमि-चारिणाम्।

FAQs

What does this verse suggest about the earth’s sacred design in the Padma Purana?

It portrays the earth as intentionally shaped like a vedi (Vedic altar-platform), implying that the world itself is a ritual-sacral space meant to support dharma and Vedic life.

Why are brāhmaṇas specifically mentioned as recipients of this ‘anugraha’ (favor)?

In Purāṇic-Vedic thought, brāhmaṇas represent custodians of mantra, yajña, and scriptural knowledge; the verse frames the world’s ordered structure as facilitating their dharmic functions for the welfare of all.

What is the ethical or spiritual takeaway from calling the earth an altar-like platform?

It encourages seeing worldly life as sacred and duty-oriented—actions on earth should be approached with the reverence and discipline of ritual, supporting learning, generosity, and dharma.