Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 42
The Account of Sukalā: Chastity Overcomes Kāma and an Indra-like Trial
गतेषु तेषु सर्वेषु सुकला सा पतिव्रता । स्वगृहं पुण्यसंयुक्ता पतिध्यानेन चागता
gateṣu teṣu sarveṣu sukalā sā pativratā | svagṛhaṃ puṇyasaṃyuktā patidhyānena cāgatā
Als alle fortgegangen waren, kehrte Sukalā—die treue Gattin, pativrata—in ihr eigenes Haus zurück, reich an Verdienst, ganz versunken in die Meditation über ihren Gemahl.
Narrator (contextual voice of the Purāṇic narration; specific dialogue pair not explicit in this single verse)
Concept: Patidhyāna (single-minded remembrance of the husband) is presented as a meditative discipline generating puṇya; devotion transforms ordinary return into a sacred act.
Application: Bring mindfulness into daily routines; let remembrance of one’s chosen ideal (dharma, deity, spouse, duty) steady the mind after conflict or temptation.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sukalā walks back into her courtyard with quiet composure, her eyes lowered in inward remembrance, as if her mind is a lamp sheltered from wind. The home appears subtly luminous—clean thresholds, calm air, and a sense that merit itself has settled like fragrance, while she remains absorbed in meditation on her husband.","primary_figures":["Sukalā","(optional) symbolic presence of her husband as a faint silhouette in her heart-space"],"setting":"A serene household courtyard with a small shrine niche, water pot near the entrance, and a swept floor; the world outside recedes, emphasizing interiority.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm ochre","lotus pink","soft white","leaf green","muted gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sukalā entering a richly ornamented yet modest home threshold, a small shrine lamp glowing; gold leaf used to suggest ‘puṇya’ radiance around the doorway and her halo; deep reds and greens in textiles, embossed patterns on pillars, traditional South Indian domestic iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle domestic scene with delicate architecture and a quiet courtyard; Sukalā’s face serene, eyes half-lidded; pale dawn sky, soft shadows; minimalism conveying meditation and inwardness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Sukalā in frontal stance with characteristic large eyes softened into calm; bold outlines, earthy pigments; a small lamp and shrine niche behind; radiance indicated by concentric yellow fields around her figure.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: courtyard framed by floral borders and lotus motifs; Sukalā centered like a devotional figure; lamp and tulasi pot as decorative elements; deep blue or maroon ground with gold highlights to convey sanctity of the home."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft temple bell","morning birds","footsteps on stone","gentle silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चागता → च + आगता; स्वगृहं is a compound (स्व-गृहम्).
FAQs
It portrays Sukalā as a pativratā whose inner orientation is steadfast remembrance of her husband; her virtue is presented as a source of puṇya (spiritual merit) even in ordinary acts like returning home.
Through the phrase patidhyānena—“by meditation on her husband”—it highlights smaraṇa (remembrance/mental absorption) as a sustaining practice that shapes character and generates merit.
The verse suggests that integrity and focused remembrance (constancy of mind) can sanctify daily life, linking domestic duty with inward discipline.