Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 15
Karmas Leading to Hell and Heaven
Ethical Catalog of Destinies
आगतान्भोजनार्थं तु ब्राह्मणान्वृत्तिकर्शितान् । प्रतिषेधं च कुर्वंति ते वै निरयगामिनः
āgatānbhojanārthaṃ tu brāhmaṇānvṛttikarśitān | pratiṣedhaṃ ca kurvaṃti te vai nirayagāminaḥ
جو رزق کی مشقت سے نڈھال، محتاج برہمن جب کھانے کی خاطر آئیں تو انہیں روک کر لوٹا دیتے ہیں، وہ یقیناً نرک کے گامی ہیں۔
Not explicitly stated in the provided excerpt (contextual speaker unknown).
Concept: Turning away hungry, livelihood-worn brāhmaṇas who come for food is a grave breach of atithi-dharma and leads to naraka.
Application: Keep a small ‘anna-dāna’ habit: feed a guest, donate meals, support a Vedic student/teacher, or offer food respectfully to anyone in need; practice non-humiliating giving (without harsh words).
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the threshold of a modest home, weary brāhmaṇas with thin bodies and travel dust hold begging bowls, eyes gentle but tired. The householder turns them away with a closed gesture; behind him, a darkening aura gathers, while on the other side of the doorway a warm lamp-lit kitchen glows—symbolizing the simple choice between compassion and downfall.","primary_figures":["impoverished brāhmaṇas seeking food","a householder refusing alms","a symbolic Naraka shadow (subtle)"],"setting":"Village house doorway with a visible hearth/kitchen; a dusty road outside.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","clay brown","off-white cotton","charcoal shadow","brass gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: A doorway scene with embossed gold borders; brāhmaṇas in simple white garments holding bowls, rendered with compassionate faces; the householder in richer attire turning away; inside, a glowing lamp and brass vessels highlighted with gold leaf; moral contrast through luminous interior vs dark exterior shadows.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Tender human drama at a village threshold; delicate facial expressions, soft earth tones, a small oil lamp inside; the brāhmaṇas’ fatigue shown through posture; refined brushwork and gentle narrative realism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Iconic frontal figures—brāhmaṇas at left, householder at right—strong outlines and expressive eyes; warm yellow-red interior glow; ornamental borders with rice-grain and lotus motifs; moral symbolism through color contrast.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Threshold composition framed by floral borders; bowls and food vessels stylized as repeating motifs; warm golden lamp at center; deep blue outer background with gold highlights; devotional emphasis on anna-dāna as sacred offering."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["soft bell","distant chanting","rustle of cloth","quiet hearth crackle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आगतान्भोजनार्थम् = आगतान् + भोजनार्थम्; ब्राह्मणान्वृत्तिकर्शितान् = ब्राह्मणान् + वृत्तिकर्शितान्; कुर्वंति (पाठभेद) = कुर्वन्ति.
FAQs
It stresses the duty of hospitality and charity—especially offering food to those who arrive seeking it, here specifically needy Brahmins.
Refusing or turning away hungry, livelihood-stricken Brahmins is condemned; the verse states such people become “nirayagāminaḥ,” destined for hell.
Primarily social ethics: it frames feeding the needy (as guests/seekers of food) as a dharmic obligation with karmic consequences.