Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 11
Sudevā’s Ascent to Heaven
Merit, Hospitality, and Release from Hell
कदापि वचनं दत्तं न मया पापया शुभम् । अस्यैव विप्रवर्यस्य आचरंत्या च दुष्कृतम्
kadāpi vacanaṃ dattaṃ na mayā pāpayā śubham | asyaiva vipravaryasya ācaraṃtyā ca duṣkṛtam
لم أنطق قطّ —وأنا المرأة الآثمة— بكلمةٍ مباركة واحدة؛ بل إنني في سلوكي تجاه هذا البراهمن الجليل قد ارتكبتُ إساءة.
Unspecified (a female speaker confessing fault; context needed for precise attribution within the chapter’s dialogue)
Concept: Auspicious speech and respectful conduct toward the worthy (especially brāhmaṇas/guests) are foundational; their violation is a grave wrong that demands repentance and correction.
Application: Practice ‘śubha-vākya’: speak blessings, gratitude, and truth; treat teachers/elders/guests with tangible respect; when wrong, confess without excuses and make amends.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A penitent woman stands with folded hands before a venerable brāhmaṇa seated calmly, her face marked by shame as she admits her harshness and misdeeds. Behind them, a small altar with water and flowers suggests the possibility of purification even after grave error.","primary_figures":["excellent brāhmaṇa (vipra-varya)","penitent woman","Devī (as witness icon or subtle presence)"],"setting":"Hermitage-like room or courtyard with kusa grass mat, water pot (kamaṇḍalu), simple altar, quiet domestic-hermitage blend.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["saffron","earth brown","pearl white","sandalwood beige","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: brāhmaṇa seated on a raised mat with serene expression, penitent woman in añjali-mudrā; gold leaf halo around the brāhmaṇa and shrine elements; rich reds/greens, ornate borders, embossed gold on vessels and ornaments.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle hermitage courtyard, refined facial features showing humility; delicate linework on the brāhmaṇa’s beard and garments; cool natural palette with soft gold highlights, lyrical trees in background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized brāhmaṇa and devotee; warm saffron and red tones, patterned textiles; temple-wall composition with moral clarity and iconic stillness.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central seated brāhmaṇa framed by lotus and floral borders; the devotee at the lower register; intricate motifs, deep blues and gold accents, devotional symmetry emphasizing repentance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["silence between lines","soft conch (very distant)","water poured into a vessel","rustle of kusa grass"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्यैव → अस्य + एव; आचरंत्या (पाठ) → आचरन्त्याः (IAST ācaraṃtyā; रूपसाम्येन स्त्री. षष्ठी एक. ग्रहणम्)।
FAQs
It highlights moral accountability: harmful conduct—especially toward a respected brāhmaṇa—is acknowledged as wrongdoing, and the speaker admits failure to uphold auspicious, truthful speech.
“Vipravarya” means “best among brāhmaṇas,” underscoring that disrespect or harm toward a spiritually and socially revered person is viewed as especially blameworthy in Purāṇic ethics.
Indirectly, it supports dharma-centered spirituality: purity of speech and right conduct are foundational virtues that complement both devotion (bhakti) and ritual life, since inner disposition and behavior shape karma.