Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 30
The Battle of Nahuṣa and Huṇḍa
within the Guru-tīrtha Glorification Episode
त्रिभिर्ध्वजं प्रचिच्छेद स पपात धरातले । तुरगान्पातयामास चतुर्भिस्तस्य सायकैः
tribhirdhvajaṃ praciccheda sa papāta dharātale | turagānpātayāmāsa caturbhistasya sāyakaiḥ
Mit drei Pfeilen hieb er das Banner ab, und es fiel zu Boden. Dann brachte er mit vier seiner Pfeile die Pferde jenes Mannes zu Fall.
Narrator (contextual battle narration within the Adhyāya; specific speaker not identifiable from this single verse alone)
Concept: Strategic restraint: neutralize symbols of pride and means of harm before delivering final defeat.
Application: In conflict, remove the opponent’s capacity to cause damage (systems, incentives, tools) rather than escalating blindly.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Three arrows slice through the enemy’s lofty banner; the standard tilts, then crashes into the dust like a fallen tree. Immediately, four more shafts strike the horses in a controlled, tactical sequence, collapsing the chariot’s mobility and turning the battlefield’s rhythm in the king’s favor.","primary_figures":["Laghuvikrama (the king)","Dānava warrior","chariot horses","fallen banner/standard"],"setting":"Chariot-lane battlefield with wheel ruts, broken spear-shafts, and a towering banner pole toppling diagonally across the frame.","lighting_mood":"harsh noon glare with dust haze","color_palette":["sun-bleached ochre","crimson banner-red","charcoal black","bronze","pale turquoise"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic diagonal of a falling crimson banner with gold-leaf filigree; the king’s poised archery stance foregrounded, jeweled ornaments and embossed gold on bow; horses mid-collapse rendered with stylized dynamism; rich greens/reds, temple-icon aureole behind the hero, gold leaf highlighting arrow trails.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant depiction of the banner’s cloth rippling as it falls; fine brushwork on horse tack and dust clouds; muted earth tones with a single vivid crimson accent; refined faces, minimal gore, emphasis on motion and balance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, rhythmic repetition of arrows; banner rendered as a large red form with decorative motifs; horses stylized with strong curves; background filled with patterned dust-clouds and auspicious geometric borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of lotuses and vines; central action with the banner falling like a red petal; arrow streaks in gold; stylized animals and floral motifs at corners; deep blue and gold accents integrating Vaishnava symbols subtly."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["banner pole crash","horse whinny","drum rolls","conch blast","crowd gasp"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिभिर्ध्वजम् = त्रिभिः + ध्वजम्; तुरगान्पातयामास = तुरगान् + पातयामास (न् + प्); चतुर्भिस्तस्य = चतुर्भिः + तस्य (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
FAQs
It describes a warrior using three arrows to cut down an opponent’s banner and four more arrows to bring down the opponent’s horses.
In classical Sanskrit battle description, cutting the banner is a public sign of overpowering the opponent, and disabling the horses immobilizes the chariot, shifting the fight’s advantage.
Not directly; it functions as vivid martial narration. Any ethical inference would be contextual (e.g., skill and strategy in kṣatriya conduct) and depends on the surrounding verses.