Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 26
The Aśokasundarī–Nahuṣa Episode: Demon Stratagems, Protection by Merit, and Lineage Prophecy
किन्नरं विष्णुभक्तं मां प्रेषितं देवसत्तमैः । दुःखमेवं न कर्तव्यं भवत्या नहुषं प्रति
kinnaraṃ viṣṇubhaktaṃ māṃ preṣitaṃ devasattamaiḥ | duḥkhamevaṃ na kartavyaṃ bhavatyā nahuṣaṃ prati
मी किन्नर आहे, विष्णुभक्त आहे, आणि देवांतील श्रेष्ठांनी मला पाठविले आहे. नहुषाविषयी असा दुःखकारक व्यवहार करणे तुला योग्य नाही.
A Kinnara messenger (a Viṣṇu-bhakta) speaking to a lady (bhavatī)
Concept: A Viṣṇu-bhakta acts as a divine envoy to reduce suffering and restore dharma; compassion is a form of service to the Lord.
Application: Let devotion express itself as peacemaking and protection of the vulnerable; avoid actions that intensify another’s suffering.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A kinnara messenger stands with palms slightly open in earnest appeal, his face calm yet urgent, declaring his identity as a devotee of Viṣṇu. Before him, a noble lady listens—caught between emotion and duty—while a faint, protective aura suggests the sanction of ‘the best of the gods’ behind the messenger’s words.","primary_figures":["Kinnara messenger (Viṣṇu-bhakta)","Lady addressed (bhavatī)","Subtle emblematic presence of Viṣṇu (chakra/śaṅkha aura)"],"setting":"Courtyard or forest clearing turned into a moral tribunal space; minimal props to emphasize speech-act and ethical pivot.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","conch white","marigold gold","forest green","rose madder"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Kinnara messenger with a small Viṣṇu emblem (chakra/śaṅkha) in the aureole, gold leaf radiance around his head, the lady seated to one side; rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, temple-arch framing, devotional iconography subtly integrated into a narrative scene.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: A poised messenger in simple elegance, gentle hand gesture of counsel, the lady’s profile attentive; cool palette with sapphire accents, delicate landscape, refined expressions conveying restraint and compassion, minimalistic yet lyrical composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Strong outlines, expressive eyes; messenger’s declaration emphasized by a stylized blue aura motif; the lady rendered with dignified posture; background filled with curling vegetal designs and symbolic conch/chakra patterns.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Narrative panel framed by lotus borders; central blue aura motif referencing Viṣṇu; intricate floral patterns, peacocks at corners, gold highlights; the messenger’s speech visualized as flowing vine-like script ribbons."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell (soft)","temple bells","low mridangam pulse","brief hush after ‘viṣṇu-bhaktam’"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दुःखमेवम् = दुःखम् + एवम्
FAQs
A Kinnara—described as a devotee of Viṣṇu—speaks as a messenger dispatched by the foremost gods, urging restraint and ethical conduct.
The speaker self-identifies as a “viṣṇu-bhakta,” presenting devotion to Viṣṇu as a credential for moral counsel and divine mission.
Do not deliberately cause or prolong another’s suffering; the verse explicitly advises that such pain should not be inflicted upon Nahuṣa.