Shloka 16

Narmadā

Revā) Tīrtha Greatness: The Gandharva Maidens’ Curse Narrative (Acchodā Episode Begins

Devanagari script

हेमगौराश्च हेमाभा हेमाभरणभूषिताः । हेमचंपकमालिन्यो हेमच्छविसुवाससः

Transliteration

hemagaurāśca hemābhā hemābharaṇabhūṣitāḥ | hemacaṃpakamālinyo hemacchavisuvāsasaḥ

Translation

Eran de tez dorada y resplandecían con un fulgor de oro, adornadas con joyas de oro; enguirnaldadas con flores de campaka doradas y vestidas con ropas que centelleaban con esplendor áureo.

Word by Word

• हेमगौराः: golden-fair
• हेमगौराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of implied ‘स्त्रियः/कान्ताः’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + गौर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: हेमवत् गौराः (golden-fair)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय-अव्यय)

• हेमाभाः: having golden radiance
• हेमाभाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: हेमस्य आभा यस्याः/यासाम्

• हेमाभरणभूषिताः: adorned with golden ornaments
• हेमाभरणभूषिताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + आभरण + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); past passive participle (क्त) ‘भूषित’ = adorned; compound: हेमस्य आभरणैः भूषिताः (instrumental sense inside compound)

• हेमचम्पकमालिन्यः: women wearing garlands of golden champaka
• हेमचम्पकमालिन्यः: Karta (कर्ता) / appositional descriptor
• Type: Noun
• Root: हेम + चम्पक + मालिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: हेमचम्पकानां मालिनी (garlanded with golden champaka flowers)

• हेमच्छविसुवाससः: wearing garments of golden sheen
• हेमच्छविसुवाससः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हेम + छवि + सुवासस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: हेमच्छविः (golden-lustre) + सुवासस् (fine garments) → ‘having garments of golden sheen’

Speaker

Unspecified (narrative description within Svarga-khaṇḍa context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Heavenly beauty and wealth arise as karmic fruit, yet remain descriptive—inviting discernment that splendor is an effect, not the ultimate goal.

Application: Enjoy aesthetics without possessiveness; convert admiration into gratitude and devotion rather than craving.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: celestial_realm

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A procession of celestial maidens appears like living gold—skin luminous, garments shimmering as if woven from sunbeams. They wear heavy gold ornaments and garlands of golden campaka, their presence turning the air into a warm, fragrant glow.","primary_figures":["celestial maidens (kanyāḥ/apsaras-like attendants)"],"setting":"a jeweled celestial courtyard with flowering trees and gold-pillared pavilions, hinting at Kubera’s realm","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["gold leaf","champaka yellow","ivory white","amber","emerald green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a row of golden-fair celestial maidens adorned with elaborate gold jewelry and waist-belts, campaka garlands rendered as clustered yellow blossoms, standing before a gold-pillared mandapa in Kubera’s celestial palace; heavy gold leaf embossing on ornaments and pillars, rich vermilion and deep green textile accents, gem-studded crowns, symmetrical South Indian iconographic composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate celestial maidens with refined faces and almond eyes, draped in shimmering pale-gold dupattas, campaka garlands, set in a lyrical garden-courtyard with flowering trees and distant pale mountains; cool airy wash, fine linework, subtle gold highlights, poetic spring atmosphere.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and warm natural pigments depicting radiant maidens in golden garments, heavy circular earrings and necklaces, campaka garlands stylized as yellow clusters; palace veranda with red-ochre pillars, green foliage borders, large expressive eyes and rhythmic stance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of lotus and floral creepers framing golden-clad maidens with campaka garlands; deep indigo background with gold detailing, peacocks and stylized blossoms, textile-like patterning emphasizing opulence and auspiciousness."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","gentle breeze through blossoms","distant conch shell","anklet chimes"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: हेमगौराश्च = हेमगौराः + च.

FAQs

What is being described in this verse of the Padma Purana?

The verse poetically describes beings—likely celestial women or attendants—whose beauty is characterized by golden radiance, gold ornaments, golden campaka garlands, and shimmering garments.

What does the repeated use of 'hema' (gold) convey in Sanskrit poetry here?

Repetition of 'hema' intensifies the aesthetic (alaṅkāra) of brilliance and auspiciousness, emphasizing a heavenly, otherworldly beauty marked by luminosity, purity, and splendor.

Is there a philosophical or devotional implication in this imagery?

Indirectly, yes: Svarga-khaṇḍa descriptions often contrast sensory splendor with higher spiritual aims, using celestial beauty to illustrate the grandeur of divine realms while implicitly reminding readers that such pleasures remain within the sphere of worldly merit.