Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 30

Nahusha’s Challenge to Hunda and the Mustering of Battle

Devanagari script

कश्मलाविष्टहृदया भग्नसत्वा महाहवे

Transliteration

kaśmalāviṣṭahṛdayā bhagnasatvā mahāhave

Translation

عظیم جنگ کے بیچ اُن کے دل مایوسی میں گھر گئے اور اُن کی ہمت ٹوٹ گئی۔

Word by Word

• कश्मल: confusion, distress
• कश्मल: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, singular) — समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• आविष्ट: entered, possessed by
• आविष्ट: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√विश् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतभावे कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रातिपदिकरूपम् — समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• हृदया: hearts
• हृदया: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, plural) — समासान्तपदत्वेन

• कश्मलाविष्टहृदया: whose hearts were seized by confusion
• कश्मलाविष्टहृदया: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कश्मल + आविष्ट + हृदय (प्रातिपदिक-संयोग)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषभावः: ‘कश्मलेन आविष्टानि हृदयानि यस्य/येषाम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter, nom/acc, plural)

• भग्न: broken, shattered
• भग्न: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रातिपदिकरूपम् — समासपूर्वपदत्वेन

• सत्वा: courage, strength
• सत्वा: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter, nominative/accusative, plural) — समासान्तपदत्वेन

• भग्नसत्वा: with shattered courage
• भग्नसत्वा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक-संयोग)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (कर्मधारयभावः: ‘भग्नं सत्त्वं येषाम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (neuter, nom/acc, plural)

• महाहवे: in the great battle
• महाहवे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाहव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयसमास (महान् + आहवः); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (masculine, locative, singular)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual description within the ongoing dialogue; specific speaker not identifiable from this single pāda)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: कश्मलाविष्टहृदया = कश्मल + आविष्ट + हृदया (समास). भग्नसत्वा = भग्न + सत्वा (समास). महाहवे = महान् + आहवे (कर्मधारयसमास; रूपे ‘महाहव’).

FAQs

What emotional state is described in this verse?

It depicts warriors (or participants) overwhelmed by kaśmala—despair or moral confusion—resulting in shattered courage amid battle.

How should “sattva” be understood here?

Here sattva is best read as courage or inner steadiness (not the Sāṅkhya guṇa), indicating a collapse of resolve under pressure.

What ethical lesson can be drawn from this line?

It highlights how fear, confusion, and despair can undermine righteous action; steadiness of heart is implied as essential for dharmic conduct, especially in crisis.