Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 35

The Aśokasundarī–Nahuṣa Episode: Demon Stratagems, Protection by Merit, and Lineage Prophecy

Devanagari script

सुकृतस्य प्रयोगेण पूर्वजन्मार्जितेन हि । पुण्यस्यापि महाभागे पुण्यवंतं सुरक्षितम्

Transliteration

sukṛtasya prayogeṇa pūrvajanmārjitena hi | puṇyasyāpi mahābhāge puṇyavaṃtaṃ surakṣitam

Translation

اے نہایت بخت والی! پچھلے جنم میں کمائے ہوئے سُکرت کے اثر سے، نیک و پُنیہ وان شخص بھی اسی پُنیہ کے ذریعے محفوظ رہتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• सुकृतस्य: of good merit (good deed)
• सुकृतस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुकृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• प्रयोगेण: by the application/use
• प्रयोगेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• पूर्वजन्मार्जितेन: earned in a previous birth
• पूर्वजन्मार्जितेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व + जन्मन् + अर्जित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘अर्जित’; समासः—पूर्वजन्म (तत्पुरुष: ‘former birth’) + अर्जित (तत्पुरुष: ‘earned in’)

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ (particle: ‘indeed/for’)

• पुण्यस्य: of merit
• पुण्यस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अपि: also, even
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-भाव (particle: ‘also/even’)

• महाभागे: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभागे: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; समासः—महा + भाग (कर्मधारय)

• पुण्यवन्तम्: the meritorious one
• पुण्यवन्तम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुण्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• सुरक्षितम्: well-protected
• सुरक्षितम्: Karman (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘protected’; उपसर्गः—सु

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative voice within Padma Purāṇa dialogue context of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुण्यस्यापि = पुण्यस्य + अपि; पुण्यवंतं = पुण्यवन्तम् (अनुस्वार-लेखभेद)

FAQs

What is the main teaching of this verse?

It teaches that past-life merit (sukṛta/puṇya) can actively function in the present life as a protective force, safeguarding the virtuous.

How does this verse relate to karma and rebirth?

It explicitly links present outcomes (being protected) to actions accumulated in a previous birth, reflecting the karmic continuity across rebirths.

What ethical lesson does this verse communicate?

It encourages sustained righteous conduct by implying that good deeds generate enduring merit that can protect and support one over multiple lifetimes.