Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 13
The Aśokasundarī–Nahuṣa Episode: Demon Stratagems, Protection by Merit, and Lineage Prophecy
एवमाकर्णितं तस्याः सूदेन नृपतिं प्रति । परित्यज्य महाराज एतामन्यां समाश्रय
evamākarṇitaṃ tasyāḥ sūdena nṛpatiṃ prati | parityajya mahārāja etāmanyāṃ samāśraya
Ayant ainsi entendu son récit, le sūta s’adressa au roi : «Ô grand roi, abandonne cette femme et prends refuge en une autre (c’est-à-dire, prends une autre épouse)».
Sūta (charioteer/bard) speaking to the king (nṛpati)
Concept: Counsel can be weaponized; a king must discriminate between dharmic advice and manipulative speech.
Application: Before acting on advice—especially regarding relationships—verify motives, seek multiple perspectives, and avoid impulsive abandonment.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a shadowed royal hall, the sūta leans close to the king, delivering a chilling counsel to abandon the queen. Courtiers freeze mid-breath; the king’s face shows conflict—dharma on one side, suspicion on the other—while a distant doorway hints at the unseen woman whose fate is being decided.","primary_figures":["Sūta (bard/charioteer)","Nṛpati (king)","silent courtiers"],"setting":"royal court interior with carved pillars, throne dais, hanging lamps, guarded doors","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["deep maroon","antique gold","smoky indigo","ivory","bronze"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a South Indian royal sabhā with the king on a gem-studded throne, the sūta whispering counsel; heavy gold leaf on crown, throne arch, and jewelry; rich reds and greens, ornate textiles, stylized lotus borders, traditional iconographic symmetry, dramatic stillness in faces.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate court scene with delicate brushwork; the king seated under a canopy, the sūta gesturing subtly; cool palette with muted reds and blues, refined facial features, patterned carpets, small narrative details like anxious courtiers and a half-open door suggesting intrigue.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; the king and sūta in profile within a palace corridor; large expressive eyes, red/yellow/green dominance, ornamental jewelry, rhythmic architectural bands, a moral tension conveyed through posture and hand mudrās.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: courtly scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; deep blue background with gold highlights; stylized figures and textiles; subtle inclusion of a small Viṣṇu emblem above the throne to suggest dharma’s witness, Nathdwara-like ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Darbari","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple bells","murmuring court ambience","distant conch","heavy silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एवमाकर्णितम् = एवम् + आकर्णितम्; एतामन्यां = एताम् + अन्याम्.
FAQs
It depicts pragmatic royal counsel: after hearing the woman’s situation, the sūta urges the king to renounce her and accept another, framing a decisive course of action.
The speaker is the sūta (often a charioteer or court bard/counsellor figure), and he addresses the nṛpati, the king.
The verse highlights how advisors may recommend difficult choices for perceived stability or dharma; it invites reflection on discernment, responsibility, and the consequences of renunciation in personal and royal life.