Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 14
Vena Episode Conclusion: Pṛthu’s Merit and the Greatness of Hearing the Padma Purāṇa in Kali-yuga
तत्फलं दृश्यते तात पुराणे पद्मसंज्ञके । अश्वमेधमखः पुण्यः कलौ नैव प्रवर्तते
tatphalaṃ dṛśyate tāta purāṇe padmasaṃjñake | aśvamedhamakhaḥ puṇyaḥ kalau naiva pravartate
Wahai anakku, buah ganjaran itu nyata disebut dalam Purāṇa yang bernama Padma. Pada Zaman Kali, korban suci Aśvamedha yang besar pahalanya sesungguhnya tidak lagi diamalkan.
Unspecified (context-dependent narrator addressing 'tāta')
Concept: In Kali-yuga, the fruit of great sacrifices is accessible through the Padma Purāṇa’s teaching; Aśvamedha is not practically performed.
Application: Substitute unattainable ‘grand’ spiritual projects with consistent, feasible disciplines: daily reading/listening, satsanga, and simple worship.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A luminous manuscript labeled ‘Padma’ rests on a low wooden stand, emitting a soft halo as a sage gestures toward it, declaring its fruit. In the background, the grand Aśvamedha arena fades like an old age’s memory, while the present Kali-yuga scene centers on listening and recitation.","primary_figures":["sage-narrator (unspecified)","disciples/listeners","symbolic Aśvamedha horse (faint, background)"],"setting":"āśrama study hall with manuscript stand, kusa mats, and a small lamp; distant mirage of yajña ground","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit with gentle aura","color_palette":["lamp gold","manuscript brown","indigo shadow","lotus pink","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central sacred manuscript ‘Padma Purāṇa’ on a stand with gold leaf aura; sage pointing in teaching gesture; background vignette of Aśvamedha horse and sacrificial posts rendered faintly; rich reds/greens, embossed gold borders, traditional iconographic symmetry emphasizing text-as-yajña.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate scene of recitation—listeners seated on mats, manuscript on a stand; delicate lamp glow; distant pale depiction of a yajña arena dissolving into the sky; cool palette with warm lamp highlights, lyrical trees and hills.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized manuscript with radiating lines, sage and disciples in profile; bold outlines, warm pigments; background icons of yajña (horse, fire altar) shown as subdued symbols; decorative lotus border referencing ‘Padma’.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lotus medallion containing the Padma Purāṇa manuscript; surrounding ring of seated listeners; ornate floral borders with lotus and tulasi motifs; deep blue field with gold highlights, devotional symmetry suggesting scripture as pilgrimage and sacrifice."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["oil lamp crackle","soft bell","page rustle","quiet chorus response"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्फलं = तत् + फलं; नैव = न + एव
FAQs
It reflects the Purāṇic yuga-dharma idea that large Vedic royal sacrifices become impractical or inappropriate in Kali due to diminished capacity, resources, and purity; other accessible spiritual practices are emphasized instead.
It indicates that the promised spiritual “result” is attested within the Padma Purāṇa itself, presenting the Purāṇa as a valid source for understanding religious merit and practice across ages.
It teaches adaptability in religious life: one should pursue meritorious aims through practices suitable to the time (yuga), rather than insisting on grand rites that cannot be rightly carried out.