Shloka 3
The Glory of the Mother-and-Father Sacred Ford
Mātāpitṛ-tīrtha-māhātmya
व्याधितं कुष्ठिनं तातं मातरं च तथाविधाम् । उपाचरति यः पुत्रस्तस्य पुण्यं वदाम्यहम्
vyādhitaṃ kuṣṭhinaṃ tātaṃ mātaraṃ ca tathāvidhām | upācarati yaḥ putrastasya puṇyaṃ vadāmyaham
Ich will das Verdienst jenes Sohnes verkünden, der seinen kranken, von Aussatz befallenen Vater und ebenso seine Mutter in gleichem Zustand liebevoll pflegt.
Unspecified (contextual narrator within Padma Purāṇa; likely a senior sage addressing an inquirer)
Concept: Sevā to afflicted parents—especially when socially stigmatized (kuṣṭha)—is a high form of dharma that generates extraordinary merit.
Application: Care for aging/sick parents with dignity: medical support, daily assistance, respectful speech, and emotional presence—treating caregiving as sādhanā rather than burden.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a humble earthen home, a devoted son gently supports his leprosy-afflicted father and mother, washing their feet and offering warm water with unwavering tenderness. Though the scene is marked by illness, a subtle aura of Viṣṇu’s grace fills the room, suggesting that seva itself has become worship.","primary_figures":["devoted son (gṛhastha)","afflicted father","afflicted mother","subtle presence of Viṣṇu (aura or small household icon)"],"setting":"simple village home with a small household shrine, brass water pot, clean cloths, medicinal herbs, and a lamp near a Viṣṇu image","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lamp-gold","earthy ochre","indigo shadow","cotton white","tulasi green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a compassionate domestic seva scene—son attending aged diseased parents before a small Viṣṇu shrine; gold leaf halo around the shrine icon, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, ornate borders, delicate floral motifs, gem-studded ornaments on the deity image, sacred lamp glow emphasizing dharma as worship.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior with lyrical realism—son offering water and medicine to frail parents; soft mountain-like cool palette, fine lines, gentle expressions, patterned floor mats, small Viṣṇu icon in the corner, quiet moral gravity conveyed through restrained gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and temple-wall aesthetic—central triangle composition of son and parents, stylized eyes, warm red/yellow/green pigments; a small Viṣṇu emblem radiating calm behind them, emphasizing sacredness of caregiving.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional domestic tableau framed by lotus and tulasi borders; a small Śrī Viṣṇu/Śālagrāma shrine at center-back, intricate floral patterns, deep blue background with gold highlights, symbolic cows/peacocks in border panels to suggest dharma and auspiciousness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","oil-lamp crackle","gentle silence","distant birds at dusk"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तथाविधाम् = तथा + विधाम् (समास); पुत्रस्तस्य = पुत्रः + तस्य; वदाम्यहम् = वदामि + अहम् (इ/अ सन्धि → य्).
FAQs
It teaches that devoted service to one’s parents—especially when they are ill or socially marginalized—generates great spiritual merit (puṇya).
By explicitly linking attentive nursing and service (upācarati) to puṇya, it treats caregiving as dharmic action rather than mere obligation.
Compassionate responsibility: a child should not abandon parents due to illness or stigma, but serve them with steadiness and respect.