Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 20
The Yayāti Episode: Succession and Royal Dharma Instructions to Pūru
भव स्वनियतो मंत्रे सदा गोप्यः सुपंडितैः । नियतात्मा भव स्वत्वं मा गच्छ मृगयां सुत
bhava svaniyato maṃtre sadā gopyaḥ supaṃḍitaiḥ | niyatātmā bhava svatvaṃ mā gaccha mṛgayāṃ suta
كنْ منضبطًا في استعمالِ المانترا؛ فهي سرٌّ يجب أن يكتمه العلماءُ حقًّا دائمًا. وكنْ مهذّبَ النفس، ضابطًا لذاتك؛ ولا تذهبْ إلى الصيد، يا بُنيّ.
Unspecified (an elder/teacher addressing his son)
Concept: Mantra must be used with restraint and kept confidential; cultivate self-control and avoid hunting (violence/vice).
Application: Keep spiritual practices private and disciplined; avoid habits that inflame aggression or distraction; adopt niyama (regularity), moderation, and ethical non-harm.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a secluded grove, a guru raises a hand in gentle admonition as a young man lowers his bow, turning away from the forest hunt. A rosary and a covered manuscript pouch symbolize mantra secrecy; the disciple’s posture shifts from restlessness to calm resolve.","primary_figures":["guru/ācārya","young son/disciple with bow","forest deer (symbolic, distant)"],"setting":"quiet forest āśrama edge with a small japa-kuṭīra, tulasī pot near the doorway, bow and quiver set aside beside a water pot","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["moss green","smoke gray","earth brown","saffron","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: guru and disciple under an ornate arch with gold leaf; disciple placing bow down, holding japa-mālā; mantra manuscript pouch depicted with jewel-like detailing; rich reds and greens, gold halo around guru, decorative lotus borders emphasizing sacred secrecy.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene woodland with delicate leaves and a distant deer; subtle gesture language—guru’s raised palm, disciple’s softened gaze; cool greens and muted browns, refined facial features, airy composition suggesting inner restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized forest motifs; guru’s commanding yet compassionate stance; disciple with bow lowered and mala visible; red-yellow-green palette, temple-wall aesthetic with patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional discipline scene framed by lotus vines; central figures in calm symmetry; peacocks on borders, deep blue-green ground with gold highlights; tulasī pot and japa-mālā as repeating motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["wind in leaves","distant bird calls","soft japa murmurs","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वनियतो → स्व + नियतः. सुपंडितैः → सु + पण्डितैः. नियतात्मा → नियत + आत्मा.
FAQs
It frames mantra-practice as disciplined and safeguarded: secrecy preserves sanctity, prevents misuse, and implies transmission under proper guidance.
Inner restraint (niyata-ātmā, svaniyata) and responsible conduct—self-mastery is presented as the foundation for spiritual practice.
Hunting is treated as a distraction and a morally compromising act that conflicts with self-control and the purity expected of one engaged in mantra-based discipline.