Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 57
The Story of Sudevā and Śivaśarman (within the Sukalā Narrative): Pride, Neglect, and Household Discipline
निरंकुशा कृता गेहे तेन नष्टा महामते । तावद्धि धारयेत्कन्यां गृहे कांतवचः शृणु
niraṃkuśā kṛtā gehe tena naṣṭā mahāmate | tāvaddhi dhārayetkanyāṃ gṛhe kāṃtavacaḥ śṛṇu
يا عظيم الرأي، لما تُركت في البيت بلا كابح هلكت بذلك. لذا ينبغي حفظ الفتاة وضبطها في المنزل؛ فاسمع هذه الكلمات الرشيدة.
Unspecified (didactic narrator addressing a listener as 'mahāmate')
Concept: Neglect of guidance leads to ruin; guardianship is framed as a duty of care within household dharma.
Application: Provide age-appropriate boundaries and mentorship; do not abandon dependents to harmful influences; cultivate a home environment of safety, education, and ethical formation.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A domestic courtyard: elders speak sternly yet anxiously, pointing toward an open doorway that symbolizes unchecked freedom and looming danger. A young maiden stands near the threshold, half in shadow, while the household’s protective circle—women attendants, elders, and a watchful gate—suggests the tension between care and control.","primary_figures":["elder advisor/teacher","maiden (kanyā)","household elders/attendants"],"setting":"traditional Indian home courtyard with threshold (dvāra), inner chambers, and a guarded gate","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["warm ochre","shadow violet","ivory white","teal green","brick red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: ornate household courtyard with gold leaf accents on doorframes and jewelry; the elder teacher in a composed posture delivering counsel, the maiden near a gilded threshold; rich reds/greens, symmetrical composition, emphasis on protective ‘pālana’ motifs—water pot, lamp, and guarded doorway.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate domestic scene with patterned textiles, soft light through lattice windows, refined expressions showing concern rather than anger; the threshold rendered as a symbolic boundary, cool greens and muted reds, lyrical realism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized architecture with temple-like pillars, expressive eyes conveying warning; strong red/yellow/green palette, the doorway as a dark arch of potential peril, elders forming a protective semicircle.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: domestic allegory framed by lotus borders; deep blue background with gold floral filigree; peacocks and vines around the doorway; the maiden depicted with gentle grace, elders as guardians, emphasizing dharma’s protective enclosure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["courtyard birds","soft anklet chime","door creak","distant temple bell","hushed admonitory voices"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धारयेत्कन्यां = धारयेत् + कन्याम्; कांतवचः = कान्तवचः; (IAST kāṃtavacaḥ) treated as kānta-vacaḥ; no further sandhi.
FAQs
It teaches the importance of restraint and careful guardianship within household life, warning that lack of guidance can lead to harm.
This verse reads primarily as nīti (moral/social instruction) within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa rather than a specifically devotional or theological exposition.
The verse itself does not name the speaker; it is presented as counsel addressed to someone called 'mahāmate' ('O great-minded one'), so the precise dialogue pair cannot be confirmed from this single shloka alone.