Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 13
The Story of Yayāti: Indra and Dharmarāja on Vaiṣṇava Dharma and the ‘Heavenizing’ of Earth
पदभ्रष्टोस्मि संजातो व्यापारेण विवर्जितः । एतत्सर्वं समाख्यातं मम कर्मविनाशनम्
padabhraṣṭosmi saṃjāto vyāpāreṇa vivarjitaḥ | etatsarvaṃ samākhyātaṃ mama karmavināśanam
میں اپنے مرتبے سے گر پڑا ہوں اور روزی کے ہر وسیلے سے محروم ہو گیا ہوں؛ یہ سب میں نے تمہیں سنا دیا ہے—کہ میرے کرم کیسے برباد ہو گئے۔
Unspecified (a petitioner/narrator describing his downfall within the dialogue context of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 76)
Concept: Acknowledging downfall and karmic consequence is the first step toward restoration through dharma and (in Padma’s spirit) remedial devotion/vrata.
Application: When facing loss, avoid denial; honestly assess actions, seek wise counsel, and adopt corrective disciplines (truthfulness, charity, regulated living, devotional practice).
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solitary figure, once well-dressed, now sits on the steps of a temple courtyard with loosened garments and downcast eyes, hands joined in confession. Before him stands a calm sage, listening without judgment; behind them, a closed marketplace and an empty granary symbolize lost livelihood, while a small lamp near a lotus-carved pillar hints at hope and renewal.","primary_figures":["fallen petitioner","compassionate sage","attendant (optional)"],"setting":"temple courtyard at the edge of a town; shuttered stalls, a quiet shrine niche, stone steps and carved lotus motifs","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["ash gray","warm amber","indigo dusk","muted ochre","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a penitent figure seated on temple steps with folded hands, a serene sage standing with blessing gesture; gold leaf on temple arch and lamp flames, rich maroons and greens, ornate borders with lotus and conch motifs; background shows symbolic closed market stalls and an empty granary rendered in stylized symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate courtyard confession scene, delicate expressions of sorrow and compassion, soft dusk sky, quiet town silhouettes; fine brushwork on textiles, restrained palette with warm lamp glow, lyrical realism in stone steps and small shrine details.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined penitent and sage, expressive eyes conveying karuṇā, lamp-lit shrine niche with lotus carvings; strong reds/yellows/greens with dark background, ornamental border patterns suggesting moral order and restoration.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—central penitent near a small shrine, surrounded by floral borders of lotuses; narrative medallions around the edge showing ‘loss’ (empty granary) transforming into ‘renewal’ (filled pot, lamp); deep blue ground with gold and saffron highlights."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["low temple bell","night insects","soft wind","single hand drum pulse (very subtle)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पदभ्रष्टोस्मि = पदभ्रष्टः अस्मि; एतत्सर्वम् = एतत् सर्वम्.
FAQs
It frames personal downfall—loss of status and livelihood—as the consequence of one’s actions (karma), presented through a candid confession.
No. The tone is reflective and explanatory: the speaker connects circumstances to prior deeds, implying moral accountability rather than helpless determinism.
It encourages honest self-assessment and responsibility for one’s conduct, recognizing that unethical or careless actions can lead to social and material decline.