Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 29
Viṣṇu’s Māyā and the Stratagem Against Vihuṇḍa
with the Kāmodā–Gaṅgādvāra motif
कामोदकाख्यं पप्रच्छ यत्रतत्र गतः स्वयम् । कामोदाख्यद्रुमो नास्ति वदंत्येवं महाजनाः
kāmodakākhyaṃ papraccha yatratatra gataḥ svayam | kāmodākhyadrumo nāsti vadaṃtyevaṃ mahājanāḥ
Lui-même alla çà et là, s’enquérant du lieu nommé Kāmodaka. Mais le peuple disait ainsi : «Il n’existe pas d’arbre connu sous le nom de Kāmoda».
Narratorial voice (contextual speaker unspecified from single-verse input)
Concept: Sacred knowledge is layered: popular consensus may miss subtle truths; one needs a qualified guide (guru/ācārya) to locate the real object of seeking.
Application: When searching for meaning, don’t rely only on hearsay; consult trustworthy sources and teachers, and verify with practice.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: hasya
Type: tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A restless seeker moves from village to village at the edge of sacred woods, questioning elders and travelers about ‘Kāmodaka’. The villagers gesture in confusion, pointing to ordinary trees, while the true secret—an unseen, luminous presence—hovers just beyond the frame.","primary_figures":["Dānava seeker","Villagers/mahājanas (common people)"],"setting":"Forest-border hamlets with dusty paths, small shrines, and signposts carved with faded symbols; distant canopy of a holy forest.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron","dusty ochre","leaf green","sky blue","charcoal ink"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a questioning scene with the seeker in ornate attire addressing village elders; gold leaf on shrine lamps and halo-like accents around sacred symbols; richly patterned textiles, stylized trees, and a faint golden aura in the distant forest hinting at the hidden truth.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: charming village vignette—people in simple garments responding with open palms and puzzled faces; delicate architecture, soft dawn sky, distant forest rendered in cool greens; the seeker’s urgency shown through posture and forward lean.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: rhythmic linework of villagers and the seeker; expressive eyes and hand gestures; warm palette with stylized trees; symbolic script-like motifs for ‘Kāmoda’ on a plank, emphasizing name vs reality.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel with floral borders; villagers clustered like a chorus, the seeker at center; peacocks and lotuses in the border; deep blue background with gold highlights, distant sacred grove suggested by repeating tree motifs."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["market murmurs","footsteps on dust","bird calls","small hand-bell at a roadside shrine"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यत्रतत्र = यत्र + तत्र (द्वन्द्ववत्-युग्म-अव्यय-प्रयोग); नास्ति = न + अस्ति; वदंत्येवं = वदन्ति + एवम् (इकार-लोप/सन्धि-लेखन).
FAQs
It portrays a pilgrim-like search: one travels and asks widely, yet local testimony may deny or obscure the sought sacred marker, highlighting how tīrtha-identification can be uncertain or contested.
Here “mahājanas” functions as “the people at large” or “well-known locals/authorities,” whose collective report is that no “Kāmoda” tree is found.
It suggests discernment in inquiry: even sincere searching may meet conflicting reports, so one should verify names, landmarks, and traditions rather than relying on a single identifier.