Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 49
Dialogue of Gobhila and Padmāvatī: Daitya Obstruction vs. the Power of Pativratā Dharma
भर्तुर्गेहादहं पित्रा क्वास्ते तत्र च पातकम् । नैव कामान्न लोभाच्च न मोहान्न च मत्सरात्
bharturgehādahaṃ pitrā kvāste tatra ca pātakam | naiva kāmānna lobhācca na mohānna ca matsarāt
«Mon père m’a emmenée hors de la maison de mon époux : où donc serait mon péché en cela ? Ce ne fut ni par désir, ni par avidité, ni par égarement, ni par jalousie.»
Unspecified (a woman defending her innocence in a dialogue context)
Concept: Moral responsibility depends on intention and agency; coerced or duty-bound movement is not ‘sin’ when free of desire, greed, delusion, and envy.
Application: When accused unfairly, respond with calm analysis of motives and facts; cultivate inner purity by watching the four drivers named here.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A woman speaks with composed sorrow, palms slightly open in a gesture of truth, as elders or an accuser confront her. Behind her, a faint lotus pond or household shrine suggests her inner purity; the scene emphasizes reasoned speech over spectacle.","primary_figures":["dharmic woman (Sukalā/unnamed)","accuser or elder male figure","witnesses (optional)"],"setting":"A domestic courtyard or assembly space with a small altar, water pot, and lotus basin; textiles and household lamps indicate a lived, earthly dharma setting.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["soft saffron","warm ivory","rose pink","leaf green","clay brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: courtroom-like domestic assembly—woman centered with gold-leaf aura of purity, hands in truthful gesture; elders seated with palm-leaf manuscripts; lotus basin and small Vishnu lamp in background; rich reds/greens, embossed gold borders, jewel-like ornament details.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle dawn in a courtyard—delicate facial expressions, restrained sorrow; pale saffron sky, fine textile patterns, flowering creepers; subtle narrative clarity with witnesses arranged in balanced composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized domestic assembly with bold outlines—woman’s calm eyes and measured posture; warm yellow-red background bands, green accents, lamp motifs; emphasis on speech and moral clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic purity scene—lotus pond and floral borders dominate; the woman framed by lotus vines, peacocks subdued; deep blue border with gold floral filigree, small shankha-chakra motifs indicating divine witness to truth."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","birds at dawn","gentle water ripple","temple bell (faint)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भर्तुर्गेहादहं = भर्तुः + गेहात् + अहम्; क्वास्ते = क्व + अस्ते; नैव = न + एव; कामान्न = कामात् + न; लोभाच्च = लोभात् + च; मोहान्न = मोहात् + न.
FAQs
It argues that moral blame (pātaka) depends on intention: the speaker denies acting from desire, greed, delusion, or jealousy, implying the act should not be judged as sinful.
They function as a diagnostic set of inner motives that commonly drive unethical actions; denying them frames the act as compelled or duty-based rather than vice-driven.
It reflects a recurring Dharmic principle: assessing conduct requires examining context and inner motive, not merely the outward event.