Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 13
Viṣṇu’s Māyā and the Stratagem Against Vihuṇḍa
with the Kāmodā–Gaṅgādvāra motif
उपद्रवं समारेभे प्रजाः पीडयते च सः । तस्यैव तेजसा दग्धा देवाश्चेंद्रपुरोगमाः
upadravaṃ samārebhe prajāḥ pīḍayate ca saḥ | tasyaiva tejasā dagdhā devāśceṃdrapurogamāḥ
เขาเริ่มก่อการกดขี่และเบียดเบียนประชาชน; ด้วยเปลวเดชแห่งตนเอง แม้เหล่าเทวะที่มีพระอินทร์เป็นผู้นำก็ยังถูกแผดเผา
Narrator (contextual speaker not specified from single-verse input)
Concept: Unchecked tyranny harms both common people and cosmic administrators; when power becomes ‘tejas’ without dharma, it burns the world.
Application: Treat authority as stewardship; measure ‘strength’ by its capacity to protect, not dominate; intervene early against systemic harm.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A wave of fiery radiance surges from the tyrant’s aura across the three worlds, shown as a ribbon of flame licking even the jeweled towers of Amarāvatī. Indra and the devas shield their faces as their crowns dim, while below, villagers scatter amid collapsing gates and smoke.","primary_figures":["Vihuṇḍa (source of tejas)","Indra","assembled devas","suffering citizens"],"setting":"Split-scene composition: earth below in turmoil; above, Amarāvatī’s celestial palaces and gardens wilting under heat.","lighting_mood":"blazing, overexposed radiance with harsh shadows","color_palette":["white-hot gold","vermillion","copper","smoky violet","lapis blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Amarāvatī rendered with gold leaf palatial architecture; devas with gem-studded crowns partially obscured by a painted ‘heat-haze’; the tyrant’s aura as embossed gold flames crossing panels; rich reds and emerald borders framing the cosmic split-scene.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined celestial architecture with delicate stippling; a translucent heat-wave effect over Indra’s court; small figures of devas in pale garments recoiling; earth below painted in muted browns with fleeing people, creating poignant contrast.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized Amarāvatī with bold outlines; Indra on Airāvata, eyes widened; bands of red-yellow flame sweeping across; rhythmic patterning to show ‘tejas’ as a living force; strong contrast between divine blues/greens and scorching reds.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate border of lotus motifs turning flame-tipped; celestial garden elements (kalpavṛkṣa) drooping; Indra and devas arranged symmetrically like a court scene disrupted by a diagonal blaze; deep blue ground with gold and red flame embroidery-like detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["conch shell (distant, alarm-like)","temple bells (agitated)","roaring fire","wind gusts"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: देवाश्चेंद्रपुरोगमाः = देवाः + च + इन्द्रपुरोगमाः; तस्यैव = तस्य + एव
FAQs
It depicts a powerful aggressor who oppresses the populace, to the extent that even the Devas—headed by Indra—are overwhelmed by his fiery energy.
The phrase highlights Indra’s conventional role as the chief of the Devas in Purāṇic narratives, emphasizing that the distress affects the entire divine order, not only humans.
Unchecked power used for harassment of subjects is portrayed as adharma that destabilizes both human society and the cosmic/divine balance, inviting eventual correction in the larger narrative.