Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 24
Dialogue of Gobhila and Padmāvatī: Daitya Obstruction vs. the Power of Pativratā Dharma
सा चापि कथ्यते नारी पतिव्रतपरायणा । पतितोपि पितापुत्रैर्बहुदोषसमन्वितः
sā cāpi kathyate nārī pativrataparāyaṇā | patitopi pitāputrairbahudoṣasamanvitaḥ
On l’appelle femme vouée au vœu sacré de fidélité envers son époux ; même si le père est déchu, ses fils le tiennent pour un homme chargé de nombreux défauts.
Unclear from single-verse input (context needed; Bhūmi-khaṇḍa often frames teachings within Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue).
Concept: A ‘pativratā’ is defined by exclusive dedication to the husband-vow; familial judgment of a fallen father illustrates how ‘fault’ is socially recognized, contrasting with the wife’s vow-based steadfastness.
Application: Treat commitments as sacred disciplines; distinguish between discerning faults and nurturing relationships—hold to principles without cultivating bitterness.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic scene of ‘vrata’ as identity: the woman stands beside a small household altar, hands folded, a thin thread of light linking her vow to the unseen divine witness. In the background, sons confer with troubled faces near an elder, suggesting the social recognition of fault and the tension between judgment and duty.","primary_figures":["pativratā woman","sons (pitr̥-sevā context)","elder father figure (symbolic)"],"setting":"courtyard with a small altar niche, tulasi planter suggested at the edge, family figures arranged in narrative layers","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","pale gold","earth brown","indigo shadow","fresh green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central pativratā figure with folded hands near a household shrine, gold leaf radiance forming a subtle aura; secondary vignette of sons and an elder in the background, rich reds/greens, ornate jewelry and textiles, symmetrical devotional composition with narrative registers.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: multi-layered courtyard narrative—foreground woman in calm devotion, background sons in quiet discussion, delicate architecture, soft dawn sky, refined facial features, gentle storytelling through posture and spacing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic pativratā figure near shrine, bold outlines, warm pigments; background figures simplified into emblematic gestures of counsel and concern, decorative borders with vegetal motifs, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical vow-scene framed by lotus creepers; deep blue field with gold floral borders, subtle conch-and-disc motifs, stylized family figures arranged like a katha-panel, emphasis on sacred resolve."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft mridang pulse","temple bells","courtyard ambience","brief silences for emphasis"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चापि = च + अपि; पतितोपि = पतितः + अपि; पितापुत्रैः = पिता + पुत्रैः; पुत्रैर्बहु... = पुत्रैः + बहु...
FAQs
It characterizes a pativratā as a woman who is wholly dedicated to the husband-centered vow of marital fidelity and duty (pativrata-parāyaṇā).
It contrasts ideals of virtue with social-ethical realities: even if a father has morally fallen, sons may still judge him as burdened with faults—highlighting family ethics, reputation, and moral accountability.
The verse upholds steadfast marital virtue while also acknowledging that moral decline (patita) leads to recognition of faults—implying that dharma requires integrity and that ethical lapses have relational consequences.