Padma Purana — Svarga Khanda, Shloka 94

Narmadā

Revā) Tīrtha Greatness: The Gandharva Maidens’ Curse Narrative (Acchodā Episode Begins

Devanagari script

धर्मश्चार्थश्चकामश्च मोक्षश्चैतच्चतुष्टयम् । यथोक्तं फलदं ज्ञेयं विपरीतं तु निष्फलम्

Transliteration

dharmaścārthaścakāmaśca mokṣaścaitaccatuṣṭayam | yathoktaṃ phaladaṃ jñeyaṃ viparītaṃ tu niṣphalam

Translation

法（dharma）、利（artha）、欲（kāma）与解脱（mokṣa）——此四重目标，应知依教奉行则能结果；若以相违之道追求，便终无果报。

Word by Word

• धर्मः: dharma, righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अर्थः: artha, wealth/purpose
• अर्थः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कामः: kāma, desire/pleasure
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मोक्षः: mokṣa, liberation
• मोक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, in enumeration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival) to चतुष्टयम्

• चतुष्टयम्: group of four, tetrad
• चतुष्टयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुष्टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• यथा-उक्तम्: as stated
• यथा-उक्तम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच्/वद् (धातु) → क्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (adverbial compound); अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable usage) meaning 'as said'

• फलदम्: fruit-giving, result-bestowing
• फलदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: फलद (प्रातिपदिक; फल + द (√दा धातु) with agentive sense)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to (एतत्) चतुष्टयम्

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known/understood
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative complement; implied 'is')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त; √ज्ञा (धातु) → यत्/अनीयर् भाव, here -य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative) 'to be known'

• विपरीतम्: the opposite, contrary
• विपरीतम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, of implied 'is')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); विषय-निर्देश (as 'the opposite [of that]')

• तु: but, however
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) expressing contrast

• निष्फलम्: fruitless, without result
• निष्फलम्: Kriya (क्रिया/predicative complement; implied 'is')
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निष्फल (प्रातिपदिक; निः + फल)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicative) to विपरीतम्

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative speaker not indicated in the provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: धर्मश्च = धर्मः + च; अर्थश्च = अर्थः + च; कामश्च = कामः + च; मोक्षश्च = मोक्षः + च; चैतत् = च + एतत्; यथोक्तं = यथा + उक्तम्; (line end) निष्फलम् unchanged.

FAQs

What are the four aims (catuṣṭaya) mentioned in this verse?

They are the four puruṣārthas: dharma (righteous living), artha (material well-being), kāma (legitimate desires/pleasures), and mokṣa (liberation).

What does the verse mean by ‘yathoktaṃ phaladaṃ’ (fruit-bearing as prescribed)?

It teaches that these aims yield beneficial results when pursued according to śāstric guidance and ethical order—especially with dharma as the regulating principle.

What is the ethical lesson conveyed by ‘viparītaṃ tu niṣphalam’ (the contrary is fruitless)?

If one seeks wealth, pleasure, or even spiritual goals through unrighteous or distorted means—against proper teaching—the pursuit becomes barren, failing to bring the intended true benefit.