Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 17
The Account of Sukalā in the Vena Episode: The Sow, the Sons, and Royal Restraint
मातरं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तनयो युध्यते स तैः । दंष्ट्रया निहताः केचित्केचित्तुंडेन घातिताः
mātaraṃ pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā tanayo yudhyate sa taiḥ | daṃṣṭrayā nihatāḥ kecitkecittuṃḍena ghātitāḥ
Indem er seine Mutter hinter sich stellte, kämpfte der Sohn gegen sie. Einige wurden von seinem Hauer getötet, andere durch den Schlag seines Schnabels gefällt.
Unknown (narrative voice; verse provided without surrounding dialogue context)
Concept: Protecting one’s mother/parents is a core dharma; true heroism is defense of the helpless, not aggression.
Application: Stand between harm and those dependent on you; let duty, not ego, define bravery—especially in family responsibilities.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce son positions his mother behind his own body like a living shield, turning to face a ring of attackers. In a startling, almost mythic reversal, he strikes with tusk and beak—half-beast, half-hero—scattering foes as the mother clutches her garment in trembling prayer.","primary_figures":["the son (tanaya)","the mother","attacking warriors"],"setting":"battlefield edge near a scrubby thicket, suggesting a last stand and a narrow refuge","lighting_mood":"late-afternoon glare with sharp shadows, heightening urgency","color_palette":["burnt sienna","ivory white","deep vermilion","shadow umber","steel blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central heroic figure shielding his mother, rendered with gold-leaf aura and ornate borders; attackers encircle with stylized weapons; the mother’s sari in rich crimson and green, jewelry highlighted with gem-like dots, dramatic yet devotional composition emphasizing dharma.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate, emotional scene—mother behind the son, delicate facial expressions of fear and resolve; fine linework for tusk and beak action, soft hills or sparse trees in the background, cool shadows and lyrical realism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines show the son in a protective stance, mother placed behind in a clear narrative silhouette; rhythmic depiction of fallen foes; strong red-yellow-green palette with expressive eyes conveying karuṇā and vīra together.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic dharma tableau—mother and son framed by lotus borders; attackers stylized as dark figures of adharma; intricate floral patterns soften the violence, deep indigo background with gold highlights and ivory figures."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["urgent drum","rapid footsteps","mother’s gasp","weapon clang","sudden hush after strikes"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: केचित्केचित्तुंडेन → केचित् केचित् तुंडेन (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: त् + क → क्क; त् + त → त्त).
FAQs
It highlights protective duty: the son shields his mother by placing her behind him while he confronts attackers.
They denote weapons or natural features used in combat—“daṃṣṭrā” (tusk/fang) and “tuṇḍa” (beak)—suggesting the fighter may be an animal or a being described with animal attributes.
Not reliably. The verse reads like third-person narration; identifying a specific speaker (e.g., Pulastya, Bhīṣma, Śiva, Pārvatī) requires the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 45.