Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 21
Prologue to the Suvrata Narrative: Revā (Narmadā) and Vāmana-tīrtha; Greed, Anxiety, and the Ethics of Trust
अस्यच्छायां समाश्रित्य यो नरः परितुष्यते । फलानि तस्य चाश्नाति सुपक्वानि दिनेदिने
asyacchāyāṃ samāśritya yo naraḥ parituṣyate | phalāni tasya cāśnāti supakvāni dinedine
ਜੋ ਮਨੁੱਖ ਉਸ ਦੀ ਛਾਂ ਹੇਠ ਆਸਰਾ ਲੈ ਕੇ ਸੰਤੁਸ਼ਟ ਹੋ ਜਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ, ਉਹ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਫਲ ਖਾਂਦਾ ਹੈ—ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਪੱਕੇ ਹੋਏ, ਦਿਨੋਂਦਿਨ।
Unspecified (narrative voice within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa context)
Concept: When one shelters under greed, one feels satisfied and receives ‘ripe fruits’ daily—habitual gains that reinforce bondage.
Application: Audit what you ‘take shelter’ in (job, status, shortcuts). Replace the daily reinforcement loop of greed with daily sādhana: japa, dana, and honest livelihood.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A broad-canopied tree casts an inviting shade like a pavilion; beneath it, a man reclines contentedly as attendants bring baskets of perfectly ripe fruit each day. Yet the tree’s roots coil around broken yamas (truth, non-stealing), and the shade subtly resembles a net.","primary_figures":["Allegorical ‘Tree of Greed’","Contented man under its shade","Attendants bearing fruit baskets (symbolic of daily gains)"],"setting":"Garden-like clearing with a deceptive serenity; fruit baskets, counting beads replaced by counting coins; a faint dharmic path visible beyond the shade.","lighting_mood":"warm afternoon glow with a faint unsettling undertone","color_palette":["honey amber","leaf green","burnished copper","deep maroon","shadow violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central canopy-tree rendered like a royal parasol; gold leaf highlights on ripe fruits and ornaments; the lounging figure with opulent textiles; subtle dark root motifs encircling broken dharma symbols; rich reds/greens with gem-like detailing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: serene pastoral scene with delicate fruit baskets and soft shading; the ‘net-like’ shadow hinted through fine crosshatching; refined facial expressions showing complacency; cool greens and gentle browns with lyrical composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized tree canopy with patterned leaves; bold outlines; expressive eyes of the complacent figure; symbolic roots as serpentine bands; strong pigments and temple-wall symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of lotuses and vines; central tree motif with repeated fruit patterns; deep blue background with gold detailing; small vignette of a Vishnu shrine outside the shade to suggest the alternative refuge."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["birds in canopy","soft hand cymbals","distant marketplace murmur","brief conch accent at cadence"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अस्यच्छायाम् = अस्य + छायाम्; चाश्नाति = च + अश्नाति; दिनेदिने = दिने + दिने (पुनरुक्ति, अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः)
FAQs
It uses a tree metaphor: one who stays close (seeks shelter) and becomes content receives steady, mature benefits over time—suggesting sustained, reliable reward rather than sudden gain.
Even without naming a deity, the structure mirrors bhakti logic: taking refuge (śaraṇāgati) and cultivating contentment yields ongoing “fruit” (phala) as a lived, daily outcome.
Contentment and faithful reliance are portrayed as causes of well-being: rather than restless seeking, staying grounded in a worthy refuge brings consistent nourishment and benefit.