Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 17
The Tale of Kāmodā and Vihuṇḍa: Tear-Born Lotuses on the Gaṅgā and the Ethics of Worship
शोकोत्पन्नानि पद्मानि गंगातोयगतानि वै । अयमेष प्रगृह्णाति कामाकुलितचेतनः
śokotpannāni padmāni gaṃgātoyagatāni vai | ayameṣa pragṛhṇāti kāmākulitacetanaḥ
كانت زهور اللوتس المولودة من الحزن تُحمل حقًّا في مياه الغانغا؛ وهذا الرجل بعينه، وقد اضطرب قلبه بالشهوة، يمضي يجمعها.
Unspecified (narrative voice within the Adhyaya context)
Concept: Outer offerings mirror inner states; desire-confusion turns even sacred symbols into instruments of attachment.
Application: Before worship or any sacred act, pause to examine motive—am I collecting ‘lotuses’ to possess, or offering them to serve? Convert grasping into offering.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"On the broad, flowing Gaṅgā, pale lotuses drift like tear-born offerings, their petals slightly bruised as if carrying grief. A lone figure, eyes clouded by longing, wades at the river’s edge gathering them hurriedly, while distant temple spires and ghāṭa steps watch in silence.","primary_figures":["A desire-confused devotee/collector","Gaṅgā-devī (suggested as a subtle presence in the water)"],"setting":"River ghāṭa with stone steps, scattered lamps, and a far-off shrine; floating lotus clusters moving with the current.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["indigo night","river-silver","lotus white","muted rose","lamp-gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: moonlit Gaṅgā ghāṭa with silver-blue water carrying sorrow-born lotuses; a restless man gathers them at the steps; subtle Gaṅgā-devī visage in the waves; gold leaf embellishment on temple lamps and shrine arches, rich maroons and emerald borders, gem-studded ornaments on the river goddess motif, traditional South Indian iconographic framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical riverscape with cool indigo and misty silver tones; delicate lotuses drifting in clusters; a slim figure bending to gather flowers, face refined yet troubled; distant ghāṭa and small shrine, soft Himalayan-style atmospheric perspective and fine brushwork.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; stylized Gaṅgā as a serene feminine presence within the river band; lotuses as repeating motifs; the collector shown with exaggerated expressive eyes of desire-confusion; temple-lamp accents in red/yellow/green palette.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Gaṅgā rendered as a patterned blue field with lotus motifs; border of intricate floral vines; central vignette of a devotee gathering lotuses, contrasted with a small Viṣṇu shrine on the bank; deep blues and gold highlights, peacocks perched near the steps, Nathdwara-inspired ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["flowing water","night insects","distant temple bells","soft conch echo","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शोकोत्पन्नानि = शोक + उत्पन्नानि; गंगातोयगतानि = गङ्गा + तोय + गतानि; अयमेष = अयम् + एषः
FAQs
It contrasts sorrow-originated lotuses drifting in the Gaṅgā with a person whose desire-clouded mind still tries to seize them—hinting at attachment arising even amid suffering.
Gaṅgā functions as a sacred, purifying setting; the image of lotuses carried by her waters frames the scene in a tīrtha-like context while highlighting how desire can persist even in holy surroundings.
A mind agitated by kāma (desire) tends to grasp at objects regardless of their painful origin; the implied counsel is to cultivate discernment and detachment (vairāgya).