Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 9
Narada Consoles King Āyu: Prophecy of the Son’s Return and Future Sovereignty
दत्तात्रेयेण यो दत्तः पुत्रो देववरोत्तमः । स वै राज्ञि कुशल्यास्ते विष्णोश्चैव प्रसादतः
dattātreyeṇa yo dattaḥ putro devavarottamaḥ | sa vai rājñi kuśalyāste viṣṇoścaiva prasādataḥ
Ce fils, le plus excellent parmi les dieux, accordé par Dattātreya, vint assurément à la reine Kuśalyā par la seule grâce de Viṣṇu.
Unspecified narrator (context not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: Even when a boon is mediated by a great sage (Dattātreya), its final efficacy is attributed to Viṣṇu’s prasāda; divine grace crowns all secondary causes.
Application: Honor teachers and holy persons, yet anchor gratitude in the Supreme; cultivate devotion and humility when blessings arrive.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A radiant child, ‘best among the gods,’ is shown as a boon descending into the queen’s life—Dattātreya stands as the compassionate mediator, while a subtle Viṣṇu aura behind him signifies the true source of grace. The queen Kuśalyā receives the child with trembling devotion, as lotus petals drift through the air like blessings made visible.","primary_figures":["Dattātreya","Queen Kuśalyā","Infant son (divinely granted)","Viṣṇu (aura/visionary presence)"],"setting":"Palace sanctum-like chamber with a small altar, lamps, and garlands; a threshold between human home and divine visitation.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","radiant gold","turquoise","milk white","sandalwood beige"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Dattātreya bestowing a divine infant to Queen Kuśalyā, with Viṣṇu’s luminous presence as a haloed backdrop; heavy gold leaf on halos, jewelry, and lotus petals; rich reds/greens, embossed ornaments, temple-like interior, ornate borders and traditional South Indian devotional iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tender boon scene in a palace chamber; Dattātreya with serene face and minimal ascetic accoutrements, the queen receiving the child; delicate brushwork, soft pastel lotus tones, refined textiles, a faint Viṣṇu aura in the background clouds.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic frontal figures with bold outlines; Dattātreya and the queen in ritual posture, infant centered; Viṣṇu suggested by a large aureole and symbolic conch/disc motifs; red/yellow/green palette, temple-wall composition with patterned borders.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central medallion of Viṣṇu’s prasāda as a lotus-burst; below, Dattātreya hands the infant to Kuśalyā; intricate floral borders, deep blues and gold, lotus motifs cascading, devotional atmosphere akin to Nathdwara narrative panels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","temple bells","tanpura drone","flower petals falling (imagined hush)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णोश्चैव = विष्णोः + च + एव.
FAQs
It attributes the arrival/birth of an extraordinary son to Queen Kuśalyā to two linked causes: Dattātreya’s granting and, ultimately, Viṣṇu’s grace (prasāda).
By highlighting that the decisive factor is Viṣṇu’s prasāda (grace), it reflects a devotional theology where divine favor is the ultimate source of blessings.
The verse implies humility and gratitude: great outcomes (like the gift of an exceptional child) are not merely personal achievements but arise through divine grace.