Shloka 5

The Tale of the Five Pretas and the Glory of Puṣkara & the Eastern Sarasvatī

Devanagari script

श्रूयते हि पुरा भीष्म ब्राह्मणः संशितव्रतः । पृथुस्सर्वत्र विख्यातः संतोषे च सदा स्थितः

Transliteration

śrūyate hi purā bhīṣma brāhmaṇaḥ saṃśitavrataḥ | pṛthussarvatra vikhyātaḥ saṃtoṣe ca sadā sthitaḥ

Translation

لقد سُمِع منذ القدم، يا بهيشما، أنّ برهمنًا ثابتَ النذور كان يُدعى بريثو، مشهورًا في كل مكان، قائمًا دائمًا في القناعة.

Word by Word

śrūyateis heard/is said

hiindeed/for

purāformerly/once

bhīṣmaO Bhīṣma

brāhmaṇaḥa Brahmin

saṃśita-vrataḥof well-disciplined vows

pṛthuḥPṛthu

sarvatraeverywhere

vikhyātaḥrenowned

saṃtoṣein contentment

caand

sadāalways

sthitaḥsteadfast/abiding

Speaker

Pulastya (narrator) addressing Bhīṣma

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Steadfast vows (saṃśita-vrata) and contentment (santoṣa) are marks of true brāhmaṇatva and spiritual maturity.

Application: Cultivate one chosen discipline consistently (daily japa, truthfulness, regulated diet) and practice contentment to stabilize spiritual life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a quiet hermitage courtyard, Pulastya sits beneath a flowering aśoka tree, narrating to Bhīṣma the legend of Pṛthu, a brāhmaṇa radiant with inner contentment. Pṛthu is shown in a secondary vignette—simple garments, calm eyes, holding a japa-mālā—while villagers in the distance gesture in admiration, signaling his widespread renown.","primary_figures":["Pulastya","Bhīṣma","Brāhmaṇa Pṛthu"],"setting":"Forest āśrama with thatched huts, sacrificial fire, palm-leaf manuscripts, distant village path","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earth brown","leaf green","sandalwood beige","vermillion","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Pulastya teaching Bhīṣma in an ornate āśrama, with a framed inset of Pṛthu holding a japa-mālā, serene and haloed; gold leaf highlights on halos and manuscript edges, rich maroon and emerald drapery, stylized flora and temple-like arches.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical hermitage scene with delicate trees and distant hills, Pulastya gesturing as Bhīṣma listens; Pṛthu depicted calmly with minimal ornaments, cool greens and browns, fine facial detailing, gentle atmospheric perspective.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold-outlined Pulastya and Bhīṣma seated near a small homa-kuṇḍa, Pṛthu shown standing with japa beads and a composed smile; strong red/yellow/green palette, patterned textiles, iconic eye shapes.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional narrative panel with ornate floral borders; central medallion of Pṛthu in serene santoṣa, surrounding smaller scenes of sages and listeners; lotus motifs, deep indigo background with gold and white detailing."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling sacrificial fire","rustling leaves","soft drone (tanpura)","distant temple bell"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: pṛthussarvatra = pṛthuḥ + sarvatra (visarga sandhi: ḥ + s → ss).

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Pṛthu (brāhmaṇa)

FAQs

Who is Pṛthu in this verse, and what is he known for?

Here Pṛthu is presented as a brāhmaṇa renowned everywhere for strict vows (saṃśitavrata) and unwavering contentment (santoṣa).

What is the ethical teaching emphasized in this shloka?

The verse highlights santoṣa (contentment) and disciplined observance of vows as core virtues that make a person genuinely respected and widely renowned.

What kind of narrative frame does this verse suggest in the Padma Purana?

The direct address “O Bhīṣma” indicates a dialogue setting, commonly understood in this section as Pulastya narrating an ancient account to Bhīṣma.