Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 26
The Story of Sukalā
Episode: Ugrasena and Padmāvatī’s Return to Vidarbha
सुखं तु पितृगेहस्य दुर्लभं श्वशुरे गृहे । एवं ज्ञात्वा तदा रेमे कदा ईदृग्भविष्यति
sukhaṃ tu pitṛgehasya durlabhaṃ śvaśure gṛhe | evaṃ jñātvā tadā reme kadā īdṛgbhaviṣyati
Kebahagiaan seperti di rumah orang tua sulit ditemukan di rumah mertua. Mengetahui hal itu, ia pun menenangkan hati, berpikir, “Kapan keadaan seperti ini akan terulang lagi?”
Unspecified narrator (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa Adhyaya 48)
Concept: Worldly happiness is contingent; one must meet life’s transitions with discernment and steadiness.
Application: Acknowledge nostalgia without being ruled by it; build contentment through service, prayer, and realistic expectations in new environments.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A young woman stands at the threshold of a grand but unfamiliar household, her gaze turned back in memory toward a softer, distant home. Her hands clasp a small keepsake, and her expression blends longing with composed acceptance.","primary_figures":["Sukalā (or the heroine)"],"setting":"Courtyard of the father-in-law’s house—ornate pillars, formal order—contrasted with a faint, dreamlike vignette of her parental home in the background.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["muted maroon","ivory","smoky blue","antique gold","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: threshold scene with the heroine in the foreground, ornate mandapa pillars, gold leaf detailing on architecture, a subtle inset ‘memory’ panel of her parental home behind her, rich reds and greens, heavy jewelry rendered with gem-like highlights, devotional calm despite sorrow.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate emotional portrait—heroine near a courtyard doorway, delicate facial expression of longing, soft pastel architecture, a distant hazy home across fields, fine brushwork emphasizing mood and restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized courtyard with bold outlines, heroine with large contemplative eyes, warm earthy pigments, ornamental borders suggesting domestic dharma, mood of quiet endurance.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic composition—two architectural halves (maika and sasurāl) separated by a floral border, heroine centered with lotus motifs, deep blue ground with gold accents, peacocks subdued to match the melancholic tone."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["soft ankle bells","courtyard ambience","distant women’s chatter","brief silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पितृगेहस्य = पितृ + गेहस्य; ज्ञात्वा (no sandhi); ईदृग्भविष्यति = ईदृक् + भविष्यति (क् + भ → ग्भ)
FAQs
It contrasts the ease and emotional security of one’s parental home with the relative difficulty of finding the same comfort in the in-laws’ household, highlighting a social-ethical reality within household life.
Yes. By stating “knowing thus,” it implies discernment and emotional maturity—accepting circumstances without losing inner steadiness, a practical dharmic lesson for navigating family dynamics.
The verse, as provided, does not explicitly name a speaker; it reads like narrative observation. Identifying the exact speaker requires the surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 48.