Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 104
Brahmā’s Puṣkara Sacrifice and the Manifestation of Sarasvatī
with Tīrtha-Merit Teachings
सरस्यस्मिन्मुखं दृष्ट्वा सुरूपास्याः क्षणादभुः । किमेतदिति चिंत्याथ निरीक्ष्य च परस्परम्
sarasyasminmukhaṃ dṛṣṭvā surūpāsyāḥ kṣaṇādabhuḥ | kimetaditi ciṃtyātha nirīkṣya ca parasparam
Seeing, in that lake, the face of the beautiful woman, they were instantly bewildered. Thinking, “What is this?”, they then looked at one another in astonishment.
Narrator (contextual; specific dialogue-speaker not explicit in this single verse)
Concept: Darśana at a sanctified water-body can abruptly shift perception and awaken sacred inquiry.
Application: When confronted with beauty or the uncanny, pause before reacting; let wonder become inquiry and reverence rather than distraction.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A still forest-lake mirrors an impossibly luminous feminine face, as if the water itself has become a divine mirror. A circle of ascetics recoil in startled silence, then turn to one another with widened eyes, their hands half-raised in questioning mudrā.","primary_figures":["forest-dwelling tapasvins (ascetics)","a reflected ‘beautiful woman’ visage (mysterious darśana)"],"setting":"dense woodland around a calm tīrtha-lake, stone steps partly hidden by moss, scattered kuśa grass and water-lilies near the shore","lighting_mood":"forest dappled with sudden divine radiance from the water-surface","color_palette":["emerald green","lotus pink","moon-silver","sandalwood beige","deep indigo"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a serene forest tīrtha-lake rendered as a jeweled mirror, the reflected luminous feminine face emerging from the water with halo-like gold leaf; ascetics in saffron and white stand in a semicircle with expressive astonished gazes, ornate borders, gem-studded ornaments on the divine reflection, rich reds and greens, traditional South Indian iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate brushwork showing a quiet Himalayan-like forest pond with lotus pads; the reflected face appears subtly in the water, while slim ascetics in simple garments exchange startled glances; cool greens and blues, lyrical naturalism, refined facial features, soft atmospheric perspective.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments depict the pond as a sacred oval, the radiant face in the water with stylized eyes; ascetics with characteristic mural facial geometry stand around, palms in inquiry; red-yellow-green palette with controlled divine glow.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a sacred water-lotus field with ornate floral borders; the miraculous face appears as a stylized reflection framed by lotus motifs; ascetics arranged rhythmically like attendants, intricate patterns, deep blues and gold, devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft wind in leaves","still-water hush","distant birds","single temple bell in the mindscape","brief silence after the ‘What is this?’ moment"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सरस्यस्मिन् = सरसि अस्मिन्; सुरूपास्याः read as सुरूपाः (प्रथमा बहु) + आस्याः (आस्य- ‘face’ as second member) → सुरूपास्याः; क्षणादभुः = क्षणात् अभुः; किमेतदिति = किम् एतत् इति; चिंत्याथ = चिन्त्य अथ.
FAQs
A group of onlookers sees the reflection/appearance of a beautiful woman’s face in a lake and reacts with sudden bewilderment and mutual astonishment.
Not in this standalone verse. Identification (if any) depends on the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 18.
It highlights how sense-perception can provoke immediate confusion and curiosity, prompting inquiry and shared verification (“looking at one another”) before conclusions are drawn.