Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 54
The Aśokasundarī–Nahuṣa Episode: Demon Stratagems, Protection by Merit, and Lineage Prophecy
षष्ठस्तु श्रुतसेनश्च श्रुताधारस्तु सप्तमः । कालदंष्ट्रो महावीर्यः समरे कालजिद्बली
ṣaṣṭhastu śrutasenaśca śrutādhārastu saptamaḥ | kāladaṃṣṭro mahāvīryaḥ samare kālajidbalī
ആറാമൻ ശ്രുതസേനൻ, ഏഴാമൻ ശ്രുതാധാരൻ. ‘കാലദംഷ്ട്ര’ മഹാവീര്യവാൻ—സമരത്തിൽ ബലവാൻ, കാലത്തെ (മൃത്യു/സമയം) ജയിക്കുന്നവൻ.
Unknown (context not provided; likely within the Bhīṣma–Pulastya dialogue frame of the Padma Purāṇa)
Concept: Valor aligned with dharma is portrayed as ‘conquering Time/Death’—a poetic way of saying righteous fame and merit outlast mortality.
Application: Face fear and adversity with disciplined courage; let strength be used to protect others and uphold truth rather than dominate.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A warrior-king, Kāladaṃṣṭra, stands poised on a dust-swept battlefield, his armor catching a cold gleam as a shadowy figure of Kāla (Time) looms behind like a storm-cloud. The hero’s stance and unwavering gaze split the darkness, suggesting that dharmic courage can pierce even the terror of mortality.","primary_figures":["Kāladaṃṣṭra (heroic king/warrior)","personified Kāla (symbolic shadow figure)","bards or sages recording the lineage (optional)"],"setting":"Archetypal battlefield with banners, chariots in the distance, and a horizon heavy with storm-like Time symbolism.","lighting_mood":"dramatic chiaroscuro","color_palette":["iron gray","blood vermilion","storm-cloud indigo","burnished gold","dusty ochre"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central heroic king Kāladaṃṣṭra in ornate armor with gold leaf highlights, standing on a stylized battlefield; behind him a dark, haloed Kāla silhouette with a faint hourglass/serpent motif; rich reds and greens in textiles, gem-studded ornaments, thick gold borders, temple-arch framing emphasizing vīra-rasa grandeur.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a refined warrior with delicate facial features and patterned armor, set against a moody sky; Kāla appears as a translucent indigo cloud-form behind; fine brushwork on banners and horses, cool palette with restrained gold, lyrical yet tense composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, flat yet powerful color fields; Kāladaṃṣṭra with wide expressive eyes and stylized ornaments; Kāla as a dark mandala-like presence; dominant reds/yellows/greens with black contours, temple-wall symmetry and rhythmic weapon motifs.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: transform the battlefield into a symbolic cosmic arena; floral borders and lotus medallions frame Kāladaṃṣṭra; Kāla rendered as a dark circular aura with serpent-like curls; deep blues and gold, intricate patterns replacing gore, devotionalized heroism."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","war drums (mṛdaṅga-like)","metallic clang","wind gusts","sudden silence on ‘kāla-jit’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: षष्ठस्तु=षष्ठः+तु; श्रुतसेनश्च=श्रुतसेनः+च; श्रुताधारस्तु=श्रुताधारः+तु; कालजिद्बली=कालजित्+बली (त्+ब→द्ब लेखन)
FAQs
They are proper names in a sequential listing: Śrutasena is identified as the sixth, and Śrutādhāra as the seventh in the series being narrated.
Kālajit literally means 'conqueror of Kāla'—Kāla being Death or Time—an epithet praising exceptional battle prowess.
It functions as a catalog-style verse, naming figures in order and highlighting a warrior’s valor through epithets rather than presenting a doctrinal teaching.