Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 26
Vena’s Fall into Adharma and the Prelude to Pṛthu’s Birth
वेदाचारं परित्यज्य पापं यास्यंति मानवाः । पापस्य मूलमेवं वै जैनधर्मं न संशयः
vedācāraṃ parityajya pāpaṃ yāsyaṃti mānavāḥ | pāpasya mūlamevaṃ vai jainadharmaṃ na saṃśayaḥ
ویدک آچار کو چھوڑ کر لوگ پاپ میں جا پڑیں گے؛ یوں پاپ کی جڑ جَین دھرم ہی کہا گیا ہے—اس میں کوئی شک نہیں۔
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa Adhyaya 38)
Concept: Abandoning Vedic conduct leads to pāpa; the text polemically labels a rival path as the ‘root’ of sin.
Application: Read as an internal Purāṇic boundary-marker: cultivate ethical discipline, truthfulness, non-harm, and devotion grounded in your tradition’s pramāṇas; avoid hatred—convert polemic into self-audit of one’s own integrity.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern sage stands beside a sacred fire altar whose flames burn bright gold, while behind him a shadowed crowd turns away from the altar, stepping into a gray fog labeled ‘pāpa.’ The king’s face shows conflict—between reverence for śāstra and fear of societal drift—capturing the verse’s sharp admonition.","primary_figures":["a stern ṛṣi","a king","symbolic sacred fire (Agni)","a crowd turning away"],"setting":"yajña-śālā with vedi, ladles, samidh bundles; beyond it a fading city street swallowed by mist","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["fire gold","deep maroon","charcoal gray","ivory","dark teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Agni altar with embossed gold flames; sage with gold halo admonishing a jeweled king; background crowd rendered in muted tones moving into gray mist; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch frame with gold leaf emphasizing śāstra’s authority.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate yajña scene with fine-line vedi details; sage’s raised hand in instruction; the crowd receding into pale gray wash; cool, restrained palette with a warm focal glow at the fire; subtle moral contrast through color temperature.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Agni altar, sage and king in bold outlines; strong red/yellow/green pigments; foggy gray band behind the crowd; didactic temple-wall composition with clear gestures and symbolic props (śāstra bundle, kamaṇḍalu).","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a central golden flame motif framed by lotus borders; lower register shows sage and king; side panels show two paths—one toward a bright altar, one into gray mist—rendered with intricate floral patterns and subdued peacock motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["sharp bell strike","yajña crackle","conch shell (brief)","tense silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वेदाचारं = वेदाचारम्; यास्यंति = यास्यन्ति (anusvāra spelling variant); मूलमेवं = मूलम् + एवम्
FAQs
It claims that abandoning vedācāra (Vedic conduct) leads humans into sin, and it polemically characterizes “Jainadharma” as a root-cause of sin.
Such lines are often part of intra-traditional debate and sectarian boundary-making; they are best read in their narrative context (speaker, audience, and purpose of the chapter) rather than as neutral historical description.
The verse emphasizes adherence to a prescribed code of conduct (ācāra) and warns that rejecting one’s normative dharma is seen as leading to moral downfall (pāpa).