Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 197
Pitṛmātṛtīrtha Greatness & the Discourse on Embodiment: Karma, Birth, Impurity, and Dispassion
आत्मयूथवियोगैश्च बलान्नयनबंधने । पशूनां संति कायानामेवं दुःखान्यनेकशः
ātmayūthaviyogaiśca balānnayanabaṃdhane | paśūnāṃ saṃti kāyānāmevaṃ duḥkhānyanekaśaḥ
Séparés de leur propre troupeau, puis emmenés de force et ligotés, les animaux incarnés endurent ainsi maintes sortes de souffrances.
Unspecified (narrative voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa; likely within a Pulastya–Bhīṣma instructional context, but not identifiable from the single verse alone)
Concept: Embodied life entails pervasive duhkha; recognizing others’ pain (especially animals) grounds compassion and restraint.
Application: Practice non-cruelty: avoid harming animals, support protection/feeding, reduce exploitation; cultivate empathy as a spiritual discipline.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A quiet forest-edge path where a small herd of cattle is being driven away; one calf turns back, eyes wide with longing, while ropes bind its neck. In the background, the remaining herd stands clustered, dust rising, conveying the ache of separation and the cruelty of force.","primary_figures":["bound cattle","calf separated from herd","herdsman/driver (anonymous human figure)"],"setting":"rural track at the edge of a forest and pastureland, with distant trees and a faint village silhouette","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earth brown","dusty ochre","leaf green","ash gray","muted ivory"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a compassionate Vaishnava moral tableau—bound cattle led away from a grieving herd, stylized South Indian landscape, ornate borders; add a small symbolic Vishnu footprint motif in a corner to suggest dharma; gold leaf highlights on ropes and ornaments, rich reds and greens, gem-like detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate brushwork showing a calf looking back toward its herd, soft hills and trees, lyrical naturalism, refined faces for the human driver, cool subdued palette with emotional emphasis on eyes and posture, thin ink outlines and gentle shading.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, simplified expressive animal forms, temple-wall aesthetic; emphasize the path, ropes, and clustered herd; natural pigments with dominant ochre, green, and red; large expressive eyes conveying karuṇā.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional allegory—cows in distress framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs; include subtle Vaishnava symbols (shankha-chakra patterns) in the border; deep blues and gold accents, ornate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["distant lowing of cattle","wind through grass","soft temple bell (very faint)","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्मयूथवियोगैश्च = आत्म-यूथ-वियोगैः + च; बलान्नयनबंधने = बलात् + नयन-बंधनॆ; कायानामेवं = कायानाम् + एवम्; दुःखान्यनेकशः = दुःखानि + अनेकशः.
FAQs
It highlights the reality of animal suffering caused by forced capture, separation from their herd, and confinement—supporting a dharmic ethic of compassion and non-violence (ahiṃsā).
It points to psychological and social distress as a form of suffering, not only physical pain—showing that harm includes fear, loss, and disorientation.
It encourages mindful choices that reduce harm to animals—opposing cruelty and unnecessary confinement, and cultivating compassion in personal and social conduct.