Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 10
The Sukalā Account in the Vena Episode: Krikala, Pilgrimage, and the Primacy of Wifely-Dharma
तामेवापि परित्यज्य धर्मकार्यं प्रयाति यः । वृथा तस्य कृतः सर्वो धर्मो भवति नान्यथा
tāmevāpi parityajya dharmakāryaṃ prayāti yaḥ | vṛthā tasya kṛtaḥ sarvo dharmo bhavati nānyathā
مَن ترك حتى ذلك الواجبَ الحقّ، ومضى ليؤدّي ما يزعمُه عملاً من أعمال الدَّرْمَا، فإنّ كلَّ ما عمله من الدَّرْمَا يصير باطلاً لا ثمرة له؛ ولا يكون الأمرُ على غير ذلك.
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narration)
Concept: Dharma becomes fruitless when one abandons one’s immediate rightful obligation (svadharma/niyata-karman) to pursue a merely performative or misdirected ‘religious’ act.
Application: Prioritize responsibilities you have legitimately accepted (family care, honesty in livelihood, promises) before taking on public piety; examine motives—avoid using ‘religion’ to escape accountability.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A householder stands at a crossroads: one path leads back to his home where elders and dependents wait, the other toward a distant shrine where a loud procession advertises ‘piety’. Above, a subtle Vishnu-disc of light hovers, illuminating the humble doorway rather than the ostentatious route, suggesting that true dharma begins with rightful duty.","primary_figures":["Gṛhastha (householder)","Elder/parent figure","A symbolic Vishnu radiance (no full anthropomorphic form)"],"setting":"Village threshold with a tulasi-vṛndāvana near the doorway, a distant temple silhouette and pilgrimage road in the background","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["earthy ochre","lamp-flame gold","indigo shadow","tulasi green","lotus pink accent"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a gṛhastha at a bifurcated path, home-threshold with tulasi-vṛndāvana and oil lamp in the foreground, distant temple gopuram and procession in the background; a subtle Vishnu-chakra halo of gold leaf above the doorway indicating true dharma; rich reds and greens, heavy gold leaf embellishment, gem-studded ornaments on the lamp stand, traditional South Indian iconographic borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical village landscape with a gentle hillside, a man pausing at a forked path, his gaze returning to the home courtyard where elders sit; delicate brushwork, cool morning mist, refined faces, small tulasi planter by the door, distant shrine rendered softly; emphasis on moral choice through composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, natural pigments; the threshold scene with tulasi-vṛndāvana, lamp-lit doorway, and a radiant circular chakra motif above; stylized figures with characteristic eyes, red-yellow-green palette, temple-wall aesthetic conveying dharma as order.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic courtyard with lotus motifs and ornate floral borders; central doorway sanctified by a golden aura, tulasi plant prominent; distant pilgrimage road with miniature figures; deep blues and gold, intricate patterns suggesting inner devotion over display."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"authoritative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells (distant)","soft household sounds","conch shell (faint)","morning birds"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तामेवापि = ताम् + एव + अपि; धर्मकार्यं (समास) = धर्म + कार्यम्; नान्यथा = न + अन्यथा.
FAQs
It teaches that neglecting one’s immediate rightful obligation (svadharma) while chasing a different “religious” act renders the latter spiritually fruitless.
No. It warns against performing such acts at the cost of abandoning a prior, binding duty; dharma must be practiced in proper order and responsibility.
It underscores that duties such as care, responsibility, and moral commitments should not be discarded for outward religiosity; otherwise merit is said to become ‘in vain’ (vṛthā).