Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 163
Pitṛmātṛtīrtha Greatness & the Discourse on Embodiment: Karma, Birth, Impurity, and Dispassion
राज्येपि हि कुतः सौख्यं संधिविग्रहचिंतया । पुत्रादपि भयं यत्र तत्र सौख्यं हि कीदृशम्
rājyepi hi kutaḥ saukhyaṃ saṃdhivigrahaciṃtayā | putrādapi bhayaṃ yatra tatra saukhyaṃ hi kīdṛśam
Même dans la royauté, où serait le bonheur quand l’esprit se tourmente d’alliances et de guerres ? Là où l’on craint même son propre fils, quelle félicité peut-il y avoir ?
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narrative)
Concept: Power and possession do not guarantee sukha; anxiety over conflict and even familial rivalry makes worldly sovereignty intrinsically unstable.
Application: Treat career/status like ‘rājya’: do duty without obsession; cultivate inner refuge through daily remembrance of Vishnu, ethical restraint, and periodic fasting/vrata to reduce rajas-driven strategizing.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king sits on a jeweled throne, but behind him loom shadowy maps, treaty scrolls, and war drums. At the edge of the court, a young prince watches with ambiguous expression, while the king’s face shows sleepless worry—splendor wrapped in fear.","primary_figures":["a troubled king","a prince (son)","court ministers (silhouetted)"],"setting":"royal court with treaty parchments, weapons racks, and messengers arriving","lighting_mood":"chiaroscuro—torchlit with heavy shadows","color_palette":["imperial maroon","burnished gold","iron gray","midnight blue","smoke black"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a richly adorned king on a gold throne with gem-studded crown, yet his eyes show worry; ministers present treaty scrolls and war reports, weapons and banners flank the scene; dramatic contrast between opulent gold leaf and dark shadowed corners, emphasizing anxiety amid splendor.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: an intimate court scene—king seated with furrowed brow, delicate rendering of scrolls and miniature maps; a prince stands slightly apart, cool palette with muted reds and blues, refined facial expressions conveying political tension, architectural arches and distant hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized royal court with bold outlines—king with expressive eyes, ministers holding palm-leaf documents, war drums and spears; warm reds and yellows dominate, deep green accents, symbolic shadow forms behind the throne representing fear.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical composition—central throne motif surrounded by circular border of lotus and weapon emblems; the king’s anxious posture contrasts with ornate floral borders and gold highlights; deep blue background, intricate patterns suggesting the net of politics."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["distant war drums","court murmurs","conch shell faintly","torch crackle"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: राज्ये+अपि→राज्येपि; पुत्रात्+अपि→पुत्रादपि; सन्धि-विग्रह-चिन्तया इति समासः (सन्धिविग्रहचिन्तया)
FAQs
It highlights that political power and kingship often bring constant anxiety—about diplomacy and war—and can even breed fear within one’s own family, making true happiness elusive.
Sovereignty is portrayed as mentally burdensome: the ruler is trapped in ceaseless strategic calculation (alliances vs. conflict), which undermines inner peace.
It warns that attachment to power can corrode trust and familial harmony; therefore, one should prioritize dharma, self-control, and inner stability over status and domination.