Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 7
Dialogue of Gobhila and Padmāvatī: Daitya Obstruction vs. the Power of Pativratā Dharma
छिद्रं प्राप्य वयं देवि नाशयामो न संशयः । ब्राह्मणाञ्छ्रूयतां भद्रे देवयज्ञं वरानने
chidraṃ prāpya vayaṃ devi nāśayāmo na saṃśayaḥ | brāhmaṇāñchrūyatāṃ bhadre devayajñaṃ varānane
Ô Déesse, si nous trouvons une brèche, nous la détruirons — sans aucun doute. Ô Bienheureuse, ô visage gracieux, que les brāhmaṇa entendent parler du deva-yajña, le sacrifice aux Devas.
Uncertain from single-verse context (likely a male speaker addressing Devī/Parvatī in a dialogue frame)
Concept: Yajña and brāhmaṇa-led ritual order are vulnerable to adharma when protective vigilance and devotion are weakened.
Application: Guard one’s spiritual practices from ‘chidra’ (loopholes): negligence, hypocrisy, and loss of sāttvika company; keep worship anchored in devotion rather than mere form.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A shadowy council of dānavas whispers in a dim grove at the edge of a sacrificial arena, pointing toward a faint ‘crack’ in the protective circle around a blazing altar. In the distance, brāhmaṇas prepare to chant, unaware, while the air trembles with impending sacrilege.","primary_figures":["dānavas/rākṣasas (scheming)","a veiled Devī figure as the addressed listener (off-frame or partially seen)","brāhmaṇa priests (distant)"],"setting":"Forest-edge near a yajña-śālā with a fire-altar, kusa grass, ladles, and a protective mandala drawn on the ground","lighting_mood":"firelit with ominous shadows","color_palette":["smoldering ember orange","ash gray","deep maroon","pitch black","dull brass"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a dramatic yajña-śālā with a bright homa-kunda rendered in thick gold leaf, brāhmaṇa priests in white with rudrākṣa and sacred threads in the background, and foreground dānavas with sharp features plotting near a broken protective mandala; rich reds and greens, ornate borders, gem-studded ornaments, stylized flames and gold highlights emphasizing the ‘chidra’ breach.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical forest clearing with a small sacrificial pavilion, delicate linework showing priests preparing offerings, while in the lower corner dark-hued rākṣasas whisper and gesture toward a subtle gap in the ritual circle; cool twilight tones, refined faces, detailed foliage, and a distant Himalayan-like ridge to heighten tension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and earthy pigments depict the homa fire as a central mandala, brāhmaṇas in simplified iconic forms, and looming dānavas at the margins with exaggerated eyes and angular postures; red-yellow-green palette with soot-black shadows, temple-wall aesthetic emphasizing the clash of dharma and adharma.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: a symbolic yajña scene framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs, with the sacrificial fire stylized like a radiant lotus; shadow-figures of dānavas at the edge attempting to enter through a small gap, while distant devotees and priests form a protective ring; deep indigo background with gold detailing and ornate textile patterning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["crackling sacrificial fire","low ominous drone","distant Vedic chanting","rustling leaves","occasional temple bell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ब्राह्मणाञ्छ्रूयताम् = ब्राह्मणान् + श्रूयताम् (न् + श् → ञ्छ्).
FAQs
“Chidra” means a flaw, gap, or vulnerability—something that can be exploited to cause harm or disruption.
A “devayajña” is a sacrificial rite oriented toward the devas (gods), typically performed according to dharma with proper recitation and offerings.
In Purāṇic and Vedic settings, brāhmaṇas are the custodians of ritual knowledge and recitation; instructing them to “hear” signals formal transmission of sacrificial procedure or doctrine.