Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 14
Entering Kāmodā and the Doctrine of Dreams, Sleep, and the Self
बहिरेव पतंत्येते निर्मलांबुकणाः शुभे । पुनर्लयं प्रयांत्येते दृश्यादृश्या भवंति वै
bahireva pataṃtyete nirmalāṃbukaṇāḥ śubhe | punarlayaṃ prayāṃtyete dṛśyādṛśyā bhavaṃti vai
Ô bienheureuse, ces gouttes d’eau immaculée ne tombent qu’au dehors ; puis elles se résorbent de nouveau, tantôt visibles, tantôt invisibles.
Unspecified (vocative 'śubhe' indicates the speaker addresses an auspicious lady; exact dialogue pair not provided in the input)
Concept: Phenomena arise, appear, and dissolve—sometimes perceptible, sometimes not—without implying ultimate reality.
Application: When thoughts and images surge (especially at night), observe their coming-and-going without identification; anchor attention in mantra or remembrance of Nārāyaṇa.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up, jewel-like droplets fling outward from a churning water surface, each droplet catching light like crystal. In the next moment, the droplets fade into mist, half-visible, half-invisible, suggesting the threshold between perception and dissolution.","primary_figures":["symbolic water droplets (as metaphor)","teacher-sage (subtle presence)","female interlocutor (śubhe)"],"setting":"Edge of a wind-stirred water body; mist and spray create a liminal veil between seen and unseen.","lighting_mood":"moonlit with misty glow","color_palette":["moon silver","crystal white","smoky lavender","deep navy","pale aqua"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: stylized wave crest with gold-leaf highlights on droplets, a decorative mist band where droplets become translucent, figures at the margin observing, ornate borders emphasizing the seen/unseen theme with shimmering embellishment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate rendering of mist and spray, droplets as fine white dots dissolving into the night air, cool nocturne palette, gentle gestures of the teacher indicating impermanence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: repeating droplet motifs transitioning into blank space, bold outlines for waves, symbolic depiction of visibility/invisibility, strong color blocks with rhythmic patterning.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: droplets arranged like pearl garlands that fade into floral-vine patterns, deep blue cloth ground, gold accents, lotus borders suggesting the mind’s play of forms."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft wind","water spray","distant owl","long silences between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पतंत्येते = पतन्ति + एते; निर्मलांबुकणाः = निर्मल-अम्बु-कणाः; पुनर्लयं = पुनः + लयम्; प्रयांत्येते = प्रयान्ति + एते; दृश्यादृश्या = दृश्य-अदृश्याः; भवंति = भवन्ति
FAQs
It describes transient phenomena: pure water droplets appear (visible), fall outward, and then dissolve—highlighting how things can alternate between perceptible and imperceptible states.
It points to the shifting status of objects as 'seen' or 'unseen' depending on conditions—suggesting impermanence and conditional manifestation rather than absolute permanence.
It encourages non-attachment and discernment: what appears solid and present may soon vanish, so one should cultivate steadiness and clarity rather than clinging to passing appearances.