Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 28
The Tale of Sukalā: Illusion, Desire, and the Testing of a Chaste Wife
within the Vena Cycle
ममाधारपरोभूत्वा योद्धुमिच्छसि सांप्रतम् । काम उवाच । तेनापि देवदेवेन महादेवेन शूलिना
mamādhāraparobhūtvā yoddhumicchasi sāṃpratam | kāma uvāca | tenāpi devadevena mahādevena śūlinā
कामदेव ने कहा— 'मेरे आश्रय में होकर अब तुम युद्ध करना चाहते हो। उन देवों के देव, त्रिशूलधारी महादेव ने भी (मेरा नाश किया था)।'
Kāma (the god of love)
Concept: Even powerful beings act within dependence and hierarchy; pride in borrowed strength leads to conflict.
Application: Recognize whose support you rely on—act with humility, avoid escalating conflicts fueled by ego.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Kāma, poised with sugarcane bow and flower-arrows, confronts an unseen challenger with a sharp, admonishing gaze, as if warning against fighting on borrowed strength. In the background, Mahādeva’s presence is suggested by a towering trident silhouette and a faint crescent-moon aura, hinting at the god-of-gods whose power even love must acknowledge.","primary_figures":["Kāma (Manmatha)","Mahādeva (Śiva) (suggested presence)"],"setting":"A liminal celestial grove at the edge of a deva court—ashoka trees, drifting petals, and a distant, smoky mountain outline evoking Kailāsa without naming it.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","saffron gold","ash gray","emerald green","midnight blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Kāma standing front-facing with sugarcane bow and floral arrows, ornate crown and gem-studded ornaments, a subtle trident-and-crescent halo motif behind him indicating Mahādeva’s overshadowing power; gold leaf embellishment on jewelry and halo, rich reds and greens, temple-arch frame, crisp South Indian iconography.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Kāma in delicate profile with refined facial features, holding a sugarcane bow; a misty trident silhouette on a distant ridge, flowering grove with soft petals, cool lyrical naturalism, fine brushwork, gentle gradients, Himalayan-like atmospheric depth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Kāma with bold black outlines, large expressive eyes, stylized floral arrows; background trident motif and crescent moon rendered as symbolic emblems; natural pigment palette with red/yellow/green dominance, temple-wall aesthetic, rhythmic ornamentation.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Central Kāma amid lotus and creeper motifs, floral borders dense with blossoms; symbolic trident emblem above as a decorative medallion; deep blues and gold accents, intricate patterning, devotional textile symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["temple bells","conch shell","wind through trees","distant drum"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मम + आधारपरः + भूत्वा → ममाधारपरोभूत्वा (अ + आ = आ; परः + भूत्वा → परोभूत्वा (ओ-संधि)); योद्धुम् + इच्छसि → योद्धुमिच्छसि (म् + इ = मि); तेन + अपि → तेनापि.
FAQs
The verse explicitly marks “kāma uvāca”—Kāma is speaking. The tone is confrontational: he accuses the other party of depending on his support and then seeking to fight.
“Devadeva” means “God of gods,” an epithet of Śiva indicating supreme divinity; “Śūlin” means “the trident-bearer,” identifying Śiva through his weapon (śūla/triśūla).
Yes. The provided Sanskrit line ends mid-construction (“Even by that God of gods…”) and likely continues in the next śloka; a complete English sentence requires the subsequent verse.