Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 18
Manifestation of the Śrī Vāsudeva Hymn in the Glory of Guru-tīrtha
Cyavana Narrative within the Vena Episode
कर्तुं पुरुषशार्दूल कोऽयं विधिविपर्ययः । दुष्कृतं साहसं कर्म निंद्यं लोकेषु सर्वदा
kartuṃ puruṣaśārdūla ko'yaṃ vidhiviparyayaḥ | duṣkṛtaṃ sāhasaṃ karma niṃdyaṃ lokeṣu sarvadā
اے مردوں میں شیر، یہ کیسا الٹا عمل ہے جو آپ کرنے جا رہے ہیں؟ ایسا لاپرواہ کام ایک گناہ ہے، اور دنیا میں ہمیشہ اس کی مذمت کی جاتی ہے۔
Unspecified (a moral admonisher addressing 'puruṣaśārdūla')
Concept: Dharma is not optional: a deliberate ‘reversal of right conduct’ (vidhi-viparyaya) becomes condemned wrongdoing, regardless of personal justification.
Application: Before acting, test the impulse: (1) is it śāstra-consistent, (2) is it non-violent and non-reckless, (3) would it withstand public ethical scrutiny? If not, pause and seek counsel.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern yet compassionate sage raises a palm in warning before a richly dressed king poised to commit a rash act. The court freezes—ministers and guards hold their breath—while the sage’s words appear like a luminous script in the air, signaling that dharma itself is watching.","primary_figures":["a mahātman sage-admonisher","a conflicted king (nara-śārdūla)","attendants and ministers"],"setting":"royal sabhā with carved pillars, a dharma-śāstra manuscript on a low stand, and a distant glimpse of a temple spire beyond the palace courtyard","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["burnished gold","deep maroon","sandalwood beige","smoky indigo","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a palace court scene where a radiant sage admonishes a proud king about vidhi-viparyaya; gold leaf halos around the sage and subtle gold filigree on pillars; rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian iconography accents, a small Viṣṇu shrine in the background signifying dharma’s source.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate brushwork showing a sage halting a king’s reckless step; cool palette with indigo shadows, refined faces, lyrical drapery; distant hills and a small temple silhouette beyond the courtyard; emphasis on expressive hand gestures and quiet moral tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, natural pigments; the sage’s raised hand in abhaya-like admonition, the king’s tense posture; red/yellow/green palette with stylized palace architecture and a small lamp-lit Viṣṇu niche indicating dharma.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—central sage and king framed by lotus borders; peacocks and floral vines around a small Viṣṇu emblem above, suggesting divine witness; deep blues and gold with intricate textile-like detailing, moral warning conveyed through posture and gaze."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","low court murmurs fading into silence","conch shell (distant)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कोऽयम् = कः + अयम् (विसर्ग-सन्धि); पदक्रमे ‘कः अयम् विधिविपर्ययः’ इति प्रश्नवाक्यम्।
FAQs
It warns against abandoning proper dharma (right conduct) and condemns reckless, impulsive actions as inherently blameworthy.
It indicates a turning upside-down of prescribed norms—acting contrary to established right procedure, morality, or duty.
The verse frames dharma as socially and morally recognized: rash wrongdoing brings censure among people and is not upheld as righteous behavior.