Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 26
Nahusha’s Challenge to Hunda and the Mustering of Battle
खड्गैः पाशैर्महाशूलैः शक्तिभिस्तु परश्वधैः । युयुधुः संयुगे तेन नहुषेण महात्मना
khaḍgaiḥ pāśairmahāśūlaiḥ śaktibhistu paraśvadhaiḥ | yuyudhuḥ saṃyuge tena nahuṣeṇa mahātmanā
Avec des épées, des lacets, de grands tridents, des lances et des haches de guerre, ils combattirent dans cette mêlée contre Nahuṣa au grand cœur.
Narrator (contextual speaker not specified from single-verse input)
Concept: Adversity arrives in many forms; steadfastness is tested by variety, not merely intensity.
Application: Prepare for challenges with breadth—skills, patience, and discernment—rather than a single strategy; keep the mind ‘mahātmā’-like (large, not petty).
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dense melee erupts: swords flash, nooses coil through the air, tridents rise like dark trees, and spears thrust in tight formation. At the center, Nahusha stands composed yet fierce, parrying and advancing as the Dānavas press in from all sides.","primary_figures":["Nahusha (mahātmā)","Dānavas wielding khaḍga, pāśa, mahāśūla, śakti, paraśvadha"],"setting":"Close-quarters battlefield with crushed banners, sparks from metal impacts, and swirling dust around feet and chariot wheels.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["burnished bronze","blood red","dust ochre","deep umber","steel blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central Nahusha in heroic stance with gold leaf highlights on armor and weapons; surrounding Dānavas in layered composition, each holding a distinct weapon (noose, trident, spear, axe); ornate borders, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, embossed metallic detailing for weapon edges.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: compact composition emphasizing gesture—curving pāśa lines, slender tridents, and fine spearpoints; cool shadows and warm dust tones; expressive faces showing strain; minimal but elegant background hills to keep focus on the melee.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: rhythmic repetition of weapon shapes, bold outlines, stylized musculature; Nahusha with calm, wide eyes and symmetrical posture; Dānavas in dynamic arcs; earthy reds/yellows/greens with black contouring and decorative smoke curls.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: patterned battlefield as a tapestry—repeating trident and spear motifs like floral elements; central hero framed by lotus medallion; ornate border of vines and lotuses; deep indigo ground with gold and vermilion accents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"forceful","sound_elements":["metal clangs","shouted battle-cries","drum rolls","bowls of echoing space","gusting wind"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पाशैर्महाशूलैः = पाशैः + महाशूलैः; शक्तिभिस्तु = शक्तिभिः + तु; शब्दश्चापस्य (elsewhere) type sandhi not in this verse; no further splits required.
FAQs
Nahusha is a famed king in Purāṇic tradition, often portrayed as a powerful ruler whose story intersects with themes of rise, pride, and downfall; here he is depicted as the central opponent in a battle.
It describes combat: warriors engage Nahusha using multiple weapons—swords, nooses, tridents, spears, and axes—emphasizing the intensity and scale of the fight.
On its own, the verse highlights the kṣatriya setting of duty and conflict; fuller ethical teaching (e.g., about pride, righteousness, or consequences) depends on the surrounding narrative context.