Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 21
Vena Episode Conclusion: Pṛthu’s Merit and the Greatness of Hearing the Padma Purāṇa in Kali-yuga
श्रोतुमिच्छति धर्मात्मा सपुत्रो भार्यया सह । श्रवणार्थं महाश्रद्धा पूर्वं तस्य प्रजायते
śrotumicchati dharmātmā saputro bhāryayā saha | śravaṇārthaṃ mahāśraddhā pūrvaṃ tasya prajāyate
Orang yang berjiwa dharma itu, bersama anak lelaki dan isterinya, berhasrat untuk mendengar; dan demi pendengaran itu, terlebih dahulu timbul dalam dirinya śraddhā yang besar.
Unspecified (narrative voice within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa context; likely continuing a Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue)
Concept: Śravaṇa is a family dharma: when a righteous person approaches sacred hearing with spouse and child, śraddhā naturally arises first, preparing the heart for transformation.
Application: Create a household culture of sacred listening—read a verse daily together, attend kathā as a family, and let ‘pre-faith’ (intentional openness) precede practice.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a modest home shrine room, a family sits on woven mats: father, mother, and child facing a seated teacher who holds a palm-leaf manuscript. A small oil lamp flickers before a Viṣṇu image, and the air feels ‘pre-charged’ with śraddhā—shown as a soft golden aura forming around the listeners even before the recitation begins.","primary_figures":["righteous householder","wife","son","teaching sage or kathā-vācaka","Vishnu (as shrine icon)"],"setting":"domestic shrine corner with tulsi pot implied nearby, lamp, conch, and manuscript stand","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","coconut brown","deep vermilion","leaf green","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: intimate household satsang—teacher with Padma Purāṇa manuscript, family seated with folded hands; gold leaf halos and lamp glow, rich red-green textiles, ornate shrine frame with Vishnu iconography, gem-studded manuscript cover, traditional South Indian interior motifs (pillars, torana).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: cozy interior with delicate patterns on textiles; family expressions gentle and attentive; soft lamp light, cool shadows; a small courtyard glimpse with a sacred plant pot; refined brushwork emphasizing tenderness and śraddhā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized interior shrine with lamp and conch; family and teacher with large calm eyes; dominant yellow ochre background with red/green garments; decorative border of lotus and conch motifs; temple-wall aesthetic applied to domestic devotion.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lamp and manuscript altar with lotus border; family seated symmetrically; peacocks at the threshold and floral creepers framing the scene; deep blue and gold palette; intricate textile patterns and auspicious motifs suggesting ‘home as tīrtha’."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft bell","lamp crackle","gentle tanpura","night insects or early birds (subtle)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: श्रोतुमिच्छति = श्रोतुम् + इच्छति; श्रवणार्थं = श्रवणार्थम् (समास/तत्पुरुष); महाश्रद्धा = महा + श्रद्धा (कर्मधारय).
FAQs
It highlights śravaṇa—devotional/ethical listening—as a dharmic act, emphasizing that sincere hearing is preceded by strong faith (śraddhā).
The verse frames dharmic learning as family-inclusive: the pursuit of sacred instruction is undertaken collectively, strengthening shared values and religious disposition.
A receptive moral life begins with inner readiness—faith and intention come first, and from that preparedness arises the capacity to truly hear and absorb dharma.