Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 13
Diti’s Lament
On the Fall of the Daityas and the Futility of Grief
अन्ये च दानवा दैत्यास्तेजोभ्रष्टाः कथं सखे । तस्य त्वं कारणं ब्रूहि विस्तरेण यशस्विनि
anye ca dānavā daityāstejobhraṣṭāḥ kathaṃ sakhe | tasya tvaṃ kāraṇaṃ brūhi vistareṇa yaśasvini
Dan wahai sahabat, bagaimana pula Dānava dan Daitya yang lain kehilangan sinar keperkasaan mereka? Wahai yang termasyhur, jelaskanlah sebabnya dengan terperinci.
Unspecified (a questioning speaker addressing an illustrious female interlocutor)
Concept: Tejas is not merely power; it is contingent—lost when one deviates from dharma and confronts the Lord’s order.
Application: Treat success and charisma as accountable to ethics; when strength is used against dharma, it erodes—cultivate humility and right conduct to preserve inner radiance.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solemn council of asura-mothers and elders in a shadowed palace hall, one speaker leaning forward in earnest inquiry toward an illustrious matron. The air feels heavy with the mystery of vanished radiance—dimmed crowns, dulled ornaments, and a distant rumble of impending war.","primary_figures":["Diti","Danu","Daitya/Dānava elder (questioner)"],"setting":"Asura royal hall with lotus-carved pillars, fading banners, and a distant view of a dark forest threshold symbolizing Vishnu’s approach.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky indigo","burnished bronze","deep maroon","ash gray","faint gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: an asura court interior with Diti and Danu seated on ornate thrones, the questioning elder gesturing; gold leaf highlights on jewelry that appears slightly tarnished, rich reds and greens in textiles, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian iconography with a subtle halo motif hinting at Vishnu’s superior tejas beyond the frame.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate palace chamber scene with delicate brushwork, soft facial expressions of concern, cool twilight palette, patterned carpets, arched windows opening to a forested horizon; lyrical naturalism emphasizing the emotional tension of inquiry and impending fate.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, stylized eyes, Diti and Danu in regal posture, warm red/yellow/green pigments; background shows lotus pillars and a dark forest band, with symbolic dimming of ornaments to convey tejas-bhraṁśa.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of lotus and vine motifs framing a courtly dialogue; deep blues and gold accents, stylized floral patterns; subtle inclusion of a distant Vishnu emblem (chakra motif) as the unseen cause of shifting fortunes."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple drum","distant conch echo","soft anklet chime","heavy silence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दैत्यास्तेजोभ्रष्टाः = दैत्याः + तेजोभ्रष्टाः; ब्रूहि (no sandhi); विस्तरेण यशस्विनि (pada separation).
FAQs
They are two well-known classes of asuras (anti-god powers) in Purāṇic genealogy—Dānavas typically linked with Danu, and Daityas with Diti—often portrayed as rivals of the devas.
It indicates a fall from inner radiance or power (tejas), often understood in Purāṇic narrative as the consequence of adharma, pride, or loss of divine favor—i.e., a moral-spiritual diminishment reflected as diminished might.
The verse frames decline as having a discernible cause, inviting reflection on how conduct and choices lead to the loss of strength, reputation, or spiritual luminosity—encouraging inquiry into causality (kāraṇa) rather than fatalism.