Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 58
Pitṛ-tīrtha Context: Marks of Sin, Śrāddha Discipline, and Karmic Ripening
in Yayāti’s Narrative
द्विजवित्तापहरणं न्यासेन समुपार्जितम् । ब्रह्महत्यासमं ज्ञेयं तस्य पातकमुत्तमम्
dvijavittāpaharaṇaṃ nyāsena samupārjitam | brahmahatyāsamaṃ jñeyaṃ tasya pātakamuttamam
دویج (دو بار جنم لینے والے) کا مال چرانا—خصوصاً وہ جو امانت (نیاس) کے طور پر رکھا گیا ہو—برہماہتیا کے برابر سمجھا جائے؛ یہ اس کا نہایت سنگین گناہ ہے۔
Unspecified (narratorial/teaching voice within the chapter)
Concept: Stealing the wealth of a dvija—especially entrusted property—is equated with brahma-hatyā in moral weight.
Application: Do not misuse entrusted funds, donations, or temple/charity money; practice transparent stewardship; return deposits promptly; cultivate integrity in financial dealings.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a quiet hermitage treasury-room, a sealed cloth bundle marked with a sacred thread lies on a low wooden chest. A dvija calmly entrusts it to a householder, while in the background a darker vignette shows the same keeper secretly opening the seal—his hands trembling as a spectral weight of sin gathers like smoke.","primary_figures":["a dvija (brāhmaṇa) depositor","a householder/keeper of the deposit","personified Dharma as a subtle presence (optional)"],"setting":"hermitage veranda with palm-leaf manuscripts; a small shrine niche; a chest with seals and knots symbolizing nyāsa","lighting_mood":"twilight interior with a single oil lamp—moral chiaroscuro","color_palette":["lamp-amber","indigo shadow","ivory parchment","rust red","forest green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: intimate interior with gold leaf highlights on the shrine and lamp flame; dvija with serene face and sacred thread, the deposit bundle tied with ornate knots; the keeper shown in two narrative moments (entrusting and theft) separated by decorative arch motifs; rich reds/greens, heavy jewelry details, gold leaf emphasizing the sanctity of trust.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate domestic-hermitage scene with refined expressions; the bundle and seal rendered with fine detail; a subtle moral contrast—soft light on the dvija, cooler tones around the tempted keeper; gentle landscape beyond the veranda, lyrical restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, narrative paneling—left: nyāsa given with blessing gesture; right: nyāsa stolen with a looming dark yakṣa-like sin figure; strong red/yellow/green palette, stylized eyes, temple aesthetic framing the ethical warning.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—central lotus medallion with ‘Dharma’ motifs, surrounding vignettes of deposit and betrayal; ornate floral borders, deep blue ground with gold detailing; cows/peacocks as auspicious witnesses, emphasizing purity versus greed."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bell","rustle of palm leaves","low tanpura drone","brief pause on 'brahmahatyā-samam'"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: द्विजवित्तापहरणं = द्विज-वित्त-अपहरणम्; ब्रह्महत्यासमं = ब्रह्म-हत्या-समम्; पातकमुत्तमम् = पातकम् उत्तमम्
FAQs
It condemns theft—especially breach of trust involving an entrusted deposit (nyāsa)—as an extremely serious moral offense.
The verse uses brahmahatyā as a benchmark for the gravest wrongdoing, stressing that violating sacred social trust and exploiting a dvija’s property is spiritually catastrophic.
Do not take or misuse what belongs to others, and never betray entrusted responsibility—return deposits faithfully and handle others’ wealth with integrity.