Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 17
Signs at the Death of Sinners and the Approach of Yama’s Messengers
पीडाभिर्दारुणाभिस्तु कंठो घुरघुरायते । रोदते कंपतेऽत्यर्थं मातरं पितरं पुनः
pīḍābhirdāruṇābhistu kaṃṭho ghuraghurāyate | rodate kaṃpate'tyarthaṃ mātaraṃ pitaraṃ punaḥ
Tourmentée par de terribles douleurs, sa gorge rend un râle âpre; il pleure et tremble violemment, appelant sans cesse sa mère et son père.
Unspecified narrator (contextual speaker not provided in input)
Concept: At death, worldly supports collapse; the mind regresses to primal dependence, revealing the fragility of samsaric attachments.
Application: Practice ‘replacement remembrance’: when anxiety arises, consciously shift the call from human supports to mantra/japa; build a daily habit of invoking Narayana in distress.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The dying man’s throat rattles—depicted as visible tremors in the neck and a wavering breath-line—while tears stream down his cheeks. In a corner, faint silhouettes of mother and father appear like memories, unreachable and dissolving, emphasizing the tragedy of seeking shelter in what cannot follow beyond death.","primary_figures":["a dying man","memory-forms of mother and father (ethereal silhouettes)"],"setting":"simple home interior; memory-space overlays the room like translucent veils","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lamp gold","shadow brown","tear-silver","deep blue-black","faded saffron"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: emotive deathbed scene with the figure’s trembling hands, tearful face, and stylized breath-lines, ethereal parental silhouettes in the background, gold leaf used for lamp glow and halo-like accents, rich red and green textiles, ornate border framing the moral narrative.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate portrayal of trembling and weeping, soft gradients for memory-silhouettes of parents, intimate interior with fine textile patterns, cool dusk palette, lyrical melancholy, refined facial features conveying karuṇa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: strong outlines, expressive eyes and tears, lamp-lit interior, parents as pale outlined figures behind, warm reds/yellows contrasted with deep blues, mural symmetry with narrative clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical composition with the dying figure centered, memory-parents as faint figures within lotus-petal frames, ornate floral borders, deep indigo ground, gold lamp motifs, devotional negative space suggesting the need for divine refuge."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["soft sobbing","oil-lamp crackle","single low drum","distant owl","silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पीडाभिर्दारुणाभिस्तु = पीडाभिः + दारुणाभिः + तु; कंपतेऽत्यर्थं = कम्पते + अत्यर्थम् (अवग्रह)
FAQs
It describes a person overwhelmed by intense pain—his throat rattles, he cries and trembles, repeatedly calling for his parents—evoking a moment of extreme helplessness (often associated with grave illness or a deathbed-like condition).
The verse underscores human vulnerability under suffering, implying that worldly supports may fail at critical moments and encouraging timely cultivation of dharma and spiritual preparedness rather than reliance on last-minute comfort.
It conveys a harsh gurgling or rattling sound from the throat, suggesting labored breathing or a choking, distressed voice during severe affliction.