Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 27
The Slaying of Bala–Nāmuci
एतस्मिन्नंतरे वेदाञ्जजल्पुः परमर्षयः । स्वस्त्यस्तु ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च गोभ्यः स्त्रीभ्यस्तपस्विषु
etasminnaṃtare vedāñjajalpuḥ paramarṣayaḥ | svastyastu brāhmaṇebhyaśca gobhyaḥ strībhyastapasviṣu
इसी बीच परमर्षियों ने वेदों का जप किया और कहा—ब्राह्मणों के लिए, गौओं के लिए, स्त्रियों के लिए और तपस्वियों के लिए कल्याण हो।
Narrator (describing the action of the paramarṣis/sages)
Concept: Social and cosmic well-being is invoked through Vedic recitation and blessings directed to dharma-bearing communities.
Application: Begin undertakings with a benediction; support education, animal care, women’s safety/dignity, and disciplined spiritual practice; use speech to bless rather than inflame.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circle of paramarṣis seated on kuśa grass around a small, smokeless sacrificial fire, their hands raised in blessing as Vedic syllables appear as luminous script in the air. In the background, a gentle pastoral scene shows cows calmly grazing, women carrying water pots with dignity, and ascetics in meditation—each touched by a soft halo of ‘svasti’.","primary_figures":["Paramarṣis (supreme sages)","Vedic personifications (subtle, as light-forms)"],"setting":"Forest āśrama with yajña-vedi, sacred fire, and a nearby cow-pen; distant riverbank suggested but unnamed.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron","smoke-white","leaf green","earth brown","sunlit gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sages in symmetrical semicircle around a jeweled yajña-altar, gold-leaf Vedic syllables floating above, cows with ornate bells, women in rich silk with respectful posture, tapasvins with rudrākṣa and deer-skin; heavy gold leaf on halos and mantra-letters, deep crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, traditional iconographic serenity.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate āśrama scene with slender sages chanting, delicate smoke curls, soft morning light over grazing cows and a small group of women near a well; fine facial expressions, cool greens and pale ochres, lyrical trees and distant hills, subtle calligraphic mantra glow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold-outlined sages with expressive eyes, stylized yajña fire, mantra bands as decorative script, cows and women placed in clear registers; natural pigments with dominant yellow-red-green, temple-wall composition, rhythmic repetition of blessing gestures.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central mandala of sages around a lotus-shaped altar, border filled with cow motifs and tulip/lotus florals, mantra-letters as ornamental patterning; deep blue background with gold highlights, peacocks at corners, celebratory yet calm Nathdwara-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["tanpura drone","gentle temple bells","birds at dawn","soft crackle of yajña fire"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतस्मिन्नंतरे → एतस्मिन् अन्तरे; वेदाञ्जजल्पुः → वेदान् जजल्पुः; स्वस्त्यस्तु → स्वस्ति अस्तु; ब्राह्मणेभ्यश्च → ब्राह्मणेभ्यः च; स्त्रीभ्यस्तपस्विषु → स्त्रीभ्यः तपस्विषु
FAQs
It functions as a benediction—an auspicious invocation wishing welfare, safety, and flourishing for key pillars of dharmic society.
They represent core supports of dharma: spiritual learning and ritual (brāhmaṇas), agrarian sustenance and sacred economy (cows), household and social continuity (women), and renunciation/spiritual discipline (ascetics).
It emphasizes dharmic responsibility: social well-being is linked to honoring learning, nourishment, protection of the vulnerable, and spiritual discipline.