Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 170
Pitṛmātṛtīrtha Greatness & the Discourse on Embodiment: Karma, Birth, Impurity, and Dispassion
हतवानर्जुनः श्रीमान्गोपालैः स विनिर्जितः । सूर्यः प्रतापयुक्तोऽपि मेघैः संछाद्यते क्वचित्
hatavānarjunaḥ śrīmāngopālaiḥ sa vinirjitaḥ | sūryaḥ pratāpayukto'pi meghaiḥ saṃchādyate kvacit
Même l’illustre Arjuna, pourfendeur d’ennemis, fut vaincu par les vachers. Même le Soleil, bien que pourvu d’une puissance brûlante, est parfois voilé par les nuages.
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator/teacher within Padma Purana dialogue)
Concept: Worldly prowess is not absolute; the Lord’s līlā and the power of simple devotion can eclipse heroic might—like clouds veiling the sun.
Application: Do not underestimate the spiritually ‘simple’; cultivate humility and receptivity—devotion can surpass credentials.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: forest
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Arjuna, radiant and armed, stands momentarily halted as playful yet resolute cowherds surround him—some with staffs, some with ropes, their unity and confidence disarming his warrior certainty. Above, a blazing sun is partially covered by monsoon clouds, mirroring the lesson that even great brilliance can be temporarily obscured.","primary_figures":["Arjuna","Gopālas (cowherds)","Sūrya (symbolic sun)"],"setting":"Vraja pastureland near the Yamunā—cows grazing, kadamba trees, dust paths, and distant temple silhouettes.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["monsoon gray","sunlit gold","leaf green","indigo blue","milk white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Arjuna with ornate crown and gold-leaf halo stands at left, bow lowered; gopālas in bright dhotis and turbans at right, with cows and lotus motifs; above, a gold-leaf sun partially covered by stylized cloud forms; rich reds/greens, gem-studded ornaments, and a decorative border of vines and lotuses.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle pastoral Vraja—soft greens, delicate cows, kadamba trees; Arjuna’s refined profile contrasts with lively gopālas; the sun peeks through layered gray clouds; subtle humor and humility conveyed through gestures and eye-lines.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—Arjuna’s heroic stance softened; gopālas arranged rhythmically with cows; sun and clouds rendered as emblematic forms; strong red/yellow/green palette with patterned garments and a temple-wall narrative feel.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Vraja-centered composition—cows, lotuses, peacocks, and floral borders; Arjuna as a respectful visitor figure; gopālas as the devotional heart; deep blues and gold, intricate motifs, and a sun-cloud emblem above to encode the simile."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["cow bells","flowing water","soft temple bells","breeze in trees"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रीमान्गोपालैः = श्रीमान् + गोपालैः. प्रतापयुक्तोऽपि = प्रतापयुक्तः + अपि (विसर्ग-लोप, ओऽ).
FAQs
It uses a well-known contrast to teach humility: even a famed hero can be checked under certain circumstances, especially when divine arrangement or fate turns against worldly strength.
It illustrates that inherent power can be temporarily obscured—radiance remains, yet conditions may cover it—so one should not be proud in success or despair in setback.
The verse encourages humility and steadiness: do not overestimate personal prowess, and recognize that changing conditions can veil even great strength.