Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 9
The Glory of the Vāsudeva Hymn: Boons, Japa across the Yugas, and Ascent to Vaikuṇṭha
वरं यथेष्टं वरयस्व भूपते ददाम्यहं ते परितोषितो यतः । हरेस्तु वाक्यं स निशम्य राजा दृष्ट्वा मुरारिं वदमानमग्रे
varaṃ yatheṣṭaṃ varayasva bhūpate dadāmyahaṃ te paritoṣito yataḥ | harestu vākyaṃ sa niśamya rājā dṛṣṭvā murāriṃ vadamānamagre
«اختر نعمةً كما تشاء، أيها الملك؛ فإني أمنحك إياها لأني قد رضيت.» فلما سمع الملك كلام هاري، ورأى موراري يتكلم أمامه، أصغى بخشوع.
Hari (Vishnu), addressed to the king
Concept: When the Lord is pleased, He personally offers grace; the devotee’s task is receptive humility and truthful desire aligned with dharma.
Application: Before asking for outcomes, cultivate gratitude and clarity of intention; ask for what supports dharma and devotion rather than egoic gain.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a royal hall turned into a sanctum by divine presence, Hari stands before the king, offering a boon with a calm, compassionate gaze. The king, overwhelmed, listens with folded hands, his crown slightly lowered, as the air shimmers with subtle celestial light.","primary_figures":["Vishnu (Hari/Murāri)","the king (bhūpati)","attendant sages or ministers (optional)"],"setting":"palace audience chamber subtly transformed into a Vaishnava darśana-space; lotus motifs on pillars; a small altar with lamps and incense","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","lotus pink","antique gold","pearl white","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vishnu (Murāri) standing frontally in a palace-sabha, right hand in boon-giving gesture, conch and discus visible, halo rendered with thick gold leaf; the king kneels with añjali, rich reds and greens in textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch and lotus borders, traditional South Indian iconography with embossed gold detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate court scene where blue-hued Hari speaks gently to a humbled king; delicate brushwork, refined faces, soft architectural lines, pale sky-tones filtering into the hall, lyrical naturalism with small lotus and vine motifs, cool palette with warm gold accents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; Vishnu with large expressive eyes and radiant aura addressing the king; stylized palace pillars, lamp-lit ambience, red-yellow-green dominant palette, ornamental jewelry patterns and floral borders typical of temple murals.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vishnu as the central divine presence with lotus motifs and ornate borders; the king in devotion at the lower register; deep blue background with gold highlights, intricate floral patterns, hanging lamps, and symmetrical decorative framing inspired by Nathdwara aesthetics."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","low conch resonance (distant)","gentle drone (tanpura)","hushed court ambience"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ददाम्यहं→ददामि अहम्; हरेस्तु→हरेः तु; (पादान्ते) वदमानमग्रे→वदमानम् अग्रे।
FAQs
Hari (Vishnu), also called Murāri, speaks to a king (bhūpati/rājā), inviting him to choose a boon.
Divine grace responds to devotion and sincerity: when the Lord is pleased, He offers blessings, and the devotee is called to choose wisely.
A boon should be chosen with discernment—seeking dharmic, uplifting aims rather than short-lived or harmful desires.