Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 68
Sukalā’s Narrative (within the Vena Episode): Varāha, Ikṣvāku, and the Dharma of Battle
पदेपदे महत्स्नानं भागीरथ्याः प्रजायते । रणाद्भग्नो गृहं याति यो लोभाच्च प्रिये शृणु
padepade mahatsnānaṃ bhāgīrathyāḥ prajāyate | raṇādbhagno gṛhaṃ yāti yo lobhācca priye śṛṇu
દરેક પગલે ભાગીરથીમાં મહાસ્નાન જેટલું પુણ્ય ઉપજે છે. અને, હે પ્રિય, સાંભળો—જે લોભથી રણમાંથી પાછો ફરી ઘેર જાય, તે ‘રણભંગ’ કહેવાય છે.
Mahādeva (Śiva) addressing Pārvatī (inferred from vocative 'priye')
Concept: Courage aligned with duty generates immense merit; greed-driven retreat is spiritual defeat, regardless of physical survival.
Application: Identify ‘greed-based retreat’ in daily life (cutting corners, abandoning commitments for gain). Replace it with principled steadiness; take small ‘steps’ of integrity—each step becomes purifying.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: river
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Mahādeva stands on a rocky riverbank where the Bhāgīrathī rushes in turquoise-white torrents, speaking to Pārvatī with stern tenderness. Behind them, a symbolic battlefield appears like a vision—footsteps glowing on the ground, each step turning into a tiny Gaṅgā-snān aura—while a shadowy figure of a greedy deserter turns back toward home, shrinking into dusk.","primary_figures":["Mahādeva (Śiva)","Pārvatī","symbolic deserter (anonymous)"],"setting":"Himalayan Gaṅgā headstream bank with pine silhouettes; visionary overlay of battlefield and a homeward path.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance with sharp, clarifying contrast","color_palette":["ash white","river turquoise","rudraksha brown","himalayan slate","aura gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Śiva and Pārvatī seated near a stylized Bhāgīrathī rendered with gold-leaf ripples; Śiva’s gesture instructive, Pārvatī attentive; in the background, a symbolic battlefield vignette with glowing footprints (each a ‘snāna’ halo) and a small figure retreating; rich reds/greens, ornate jewelry, heavy gold embellishment and temple-arch framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Himalayan river scene with cool blues and grays; Śiva speaks softly yet firmly to Pārvatī; delicate depiction of rushing water and pine trees; a faint narrative inset shows a man turning back from battle, emphasizing moral lesson; refined faces and lyrical landscape.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines of Śiva–Pārvatī with characteristic eyes; Bhāgīrathī as stylized wave band; symbolic footprints as repeated golden motifs; the deserter as a dark silhouette; flat natural pigments with temple-wall storytelling clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central Śiva–Pārvatī framed by lotus borders; the river as a decorative band with floral motifs; repeated footprint halos like patterned ornaments; deep blue background with gold highlights; peacocks near the riverbank, intricate textile-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["rushing river","damaru (subtle)","temple bells","conch shell","thunder-like drum accents"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पदेपदे = पदे + पदे (reduplication); रणाद्भग्नो = रणात् + भग्नः; लोभाच्च = लोभात् + च.
FAQs
It states that with each step one gains great religious merit equivalent to a major Gaṅgā-bath (mahatsnāna), highlighting the tīrtha’s sanctifying power.
Greed (lobha) is shown as a cause of moral failure: it makes a person abandon duty and retreat, which the verse labels as being ‘defeated’ even without being physically overcome.
The vocative 'priye' (“O beloved”) is characteristic of Śiva–Pārvatī dialogues in Purāṇic passages; in the Padma Purāṇa this pair frequently frames dharma and tīrtha teachings.