Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 65
The Tale of Sukalā: Testing Pativratā Fidelity and the Body-as-House Teaching
बाह्याभ्यंतरमेवापि रसैः सर्वैः प्रपोषयेत् । तेन पोषणभावेन परिपुष्टः प्रजायते
bāhyābhyaṃtaramevāpi rasaiḥ sarvaiḥ prapoṣayet | tena poṣaṇabhāvena paripuṣṭaḥ prajāyate
ينبغي أن يُغذّى الظاهر والباطن بكلّ الجواهر الحيويّة؛ وبهذا الفعل وبحالِ التغذية نفسها يصير الكائن مكتمل القوّة حسنَ النماء.
Unspecified (context not provided for dialogue attribution)
Concept: Sustained nourishment of both outer life and inner being produces true strength and completeness.
Application: Care for the body with moderation and purity while also feeding the inner life through japa, study, and sattvic habits; avoid one-sided asceticism that weakens service-capacity.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene āśrama courtyard where a sage teaches the principle of nourishing both the outer body and the inner self. One side shows offerings of wholesome grains, fruits, and water; the other shows a quiet lamp-lit meditation space with japa-mālā and a lotus symbolizing inner rasa.","primary_figures":["a Vaishnava sage-teacher","a listening king or householder disciple","attendants with offering trays"],"setting":"forest hermitage with a small shrine to Viṣṇu, tulasī planter nearby, and a calm water pot (kalaśa) placed before the teacher","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron ochre","leaf green","sandalwood beige","golden amber"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a seated Vaishnava sage instructing a respectful king in an āśrama courtyard, Viṣṇu shrine in the background with gold-leaf halo motifs, ornate borders, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments on the king, offerings of fruits and grains rendered with luminous highlights, subtle lotus patterns symbolizing inner nourishment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate hermitage scene at dawn, cool greens and soft pinks, a sage gesturing toward two spaces—an offering tray and a meditation lamp—refined faces, slender trees, distant hills, lyrical naturalism emphasizing balance of outer and inner cultivation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments, sage and disciple in frontal composure, stylized tulasī pot and Viṣṇu emblem behind, warm red-yellow-green palette, large expressive eyes, rhythmic decorative foliage framing the teaching of nourishment.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition with a central lotus and lamp, surrounding panels showing sattvic foods and japa-mālā, intricate floral borders, deep indigo background with gold detailing, subtle Vaishnava iconography (śaṅkha-cakra) indicating inner devotion as the finest ‘rasa’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","gentle silence","distant birds","low drone (tanpura)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बाह्याभ्यंतरमेवापि = बाह्याभ्यन्तरम् + एव + अपि.
FAQs
It points to holistic well-being: caring for the physical body (outer) while also sustaining the inner faculties—mind, vitality, and character—through proper, life-supporting “essences” (rasa).
It suggests using all nourishing factors—nutritive juices/essences and supportive inputs—so that strength and completeness (paripuṣṭa) arise through comprehensive nourishment.
It teaches that growth and robustness come from a deliberate commitment to nourishment and support—cultivating conditions that strengthen both one’s life and one’s inner disposition.