Shloka 15
Protection of Brāhmaṇas
दृष्ट्वा मुह्यंति पुरुषाश्चंद्रमुख्यश्च ता यतः । तस्मिन्पुरे मनोरम्ये कृष्णदेव इति द्विजः
dṛṣṭvā muhyaṃti puruṣāścaṃdramukhyaśca tā yataḥ | tasminpure manoramye kṛṣṇadeva iti dvijaḥ
Apabila melihat mereka, para lelaki—bahkan yang terunggul antara yang berwajah laksana bulan—menjadi terpukau dan bingung. Di kota yang indah itu tinggal seorang dwija bernama Kṛṣṇadeva.
Narrator (contextual; specific dialogue pair not identifiable from this single pāda alone)
Concept: Worldly beauty can bewilder even the ‘best’ among men; the narrative prepares a contrast between moha (delusion) and the anchoring power of Vaiṣṇava discipline.
Application: Notice how sense-objects pull attention; counterbalance with daily worship, japa, and deliberate restraint (indriya-saṃyama).
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In the delightful city, a procession of deer-eyed women passes a carved gateway; men pause mid-step, their faces caught between admiration and stunned forgetfulness. Beyond them, the calm figure of the brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadeva appears near a small Viṣṇu shrine, hinting at a different kind of beauty—steadfast devotion.","primary_figures":["city women of Daśapura","bewildered townsmen","brāhmaṇa Kṛṣṇadeva"],"setting":"Ornate city street leading toward a modest Viṣṇu shrine with tulasī platform implied in the courtyard","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["pearl white","rose madder","sapphire blue","leaf green","antique gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic street tableau—bewildered men with expressive eyes, elegant women in rich silks, and Kṛṣṇadeva near a small Viṣṇu altar; thick gold leaf on jewelry, shrine arch, and halo-like accents around the deity symbol; deep reds and greens with ornate border patterns.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate narrative moment—men turning their heads in astonishment, women gliding past with lyrical grace; Kṛṣṇadeva placed quietly to one side near a small shrine; soft shading, refined facial features, architectural arches and a distant skyline, cool balanced palette.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized figures with bold outlines—rows of women and men in rhythmic composition; Kṛṣṇadeva near a lamp-lit shrine niche; warm ochres and reds with strong greens, iconic eye shapes emphasizing ‘muhyanti’ (bewilderment).","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symmetrical procession scene with floral borders and lotus motifs; the city becomes a decorative mandala, with a central shrine medallion bearing śaṅkha-cakra symbols; deep indigo background, gold detailing, peacocks perched on parapets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["anklet chimes","street murmurs","distant conch from shrine","soft drum pulse"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुरुषाश्चंद्रमुख्यश्च = पुरुषाः + चन्द्रमुख्यः + च; तस्मिन्पुरे = तस्मिन् + पुरे (n→np sandhi).
FAQs
It highlights the overpowering effect of beauty—men become mentally confused upon seeing certain women—and then introduces a key figure in the story, the Brahmin Kṛṣṇadeva, who resides in that city.
From the verse alone, it reads as third-person narration. The broader Padma Purana often frames narration within larger dialogues, but the specific speaker cannot be fixed without adjacent verses.
The verse implies a warning about moha (bewilderment/infatuation): sensory attraction can overpower discernment, setting the stage for moral testing or instruction through the character of Kṛṣṇadeva.