Shloka 62
The Meeting with Puṣkala’s Wife
त्वयापि सुमहत्कर्म कृतं लोकविगर्हितम् । अवध्यां महिलां यस्त्वं हतवान्नियतं ततः
tvayāpi sumahatkarma kṛtaṃ lokavigarhitam | avadhyāṃ mahilāṃ yastvaṃ hatavānniyataṃ tataḥ
Auch du hast eine überaus schwere Tat begangen, von der Welt getadelt: Denn gewiss hast du eine Frau getötet, die nicht getötet werden durfte.
Unspecified (context required to attribute confidently; likely a dialogue speaker admonishing another)
Concept: Strī-vadha (killing a woman) is a mahāpātaka-like transgression, condemned by loka and śāstra; dharma restrains even the powerful.
Application: Treat the vulnerable as inviolable; pause before anger-driven action; seek atonement (prāyaścitta) and restorative conduct when harm is done.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A stern sage or royal counselor points with a raised hand of admonition toward a warrior standing with lowered gaze, his weapon lowered in shame. In the background, a shadowy silhouette of the slain woman is suggested only as a faint outline, emphasizing moral weight rather than gore; witnesses avert their eyes as the air feels heavy with judgment.","primary_figures":["a sage-admonisher (ṛṣi)","a remorseful kṣatriya/warrior","silent onlookers"],"setting":"A palace courtyard or forest-ashram threshold where dharma is pronounced publicly, with a sacrificial fire or dharma-śilā (stone seat) nearby.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky umber","ash gray","deep maroon","muted gold","indigo shadow"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a dharma-preceptor seated on a carved pedestal, right hand in admonitory gesture, gold leaf halo and ornate borders; the warrior stands to the side with lowered head and lowered sword, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, stylized palace pillars, heavy gold leaf emphasizing the gravity of śāstraic judgment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate linework showing a quiet courtyard scene; the sage’s calm but piercing gaze contrasts with the warrior’s bowed posture, cool slate sky and subdued earth tones, minimal background figures with expressive faces, lyrical trees framing the moral confrontation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; the sage’s large expressive eyes and commanding hand gesture dominate, the warrior rendered in respectful contrition, warm ochres and reds with green borders, temple-wall aesthetic conveying dharma’s authority.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—central dharma-seat and lamp, floral borders and lotus motifs; figures arranged ceremonially, deep blues and gold, peacocks at the border as silent witnesses, emphasizing moral order rather than violence."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple bell","hushed assembly murmurs","crackling fire","brief silence after the accusation"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्वयापि→त्वया अपि; सुमहत्कर्म→सु-महत्-कर्म; लोकविगर्हितम्→लोक-विगर्हितम्; यस्त्वं→यः त्वम्; हतवान्नियतं→हतवान् नियतम्
FAQs
It condemns a socially and religiously censured act: the killing of an “avadhyā” (one who should not be slain), specifically a woman, emphasizing grave moral wrongdoing.
“Avadhyā” denotes a protected or inviolable person—someone whose killing is prohibited—highlighting the seriousness of the transgression described.
The verse alone does not identify the speaker. In the Padma Purana, many passages occur within dialogues (often involving figures like Pulastya–Bhīṣma or Śiva–Pārvatī), but this specific attribution requires surrounding verses.