Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 7
Viṣṇu’s Māyā and the Stratagem Against Vihuṇḍa
with the Kāmodā–Gaṅgādvāra motif
कुंजल उवाच । शृणु वत्स प्रवक्ष्यामि वृत्तांतं देवनिर्मितम् । चरित्रं सर्वपापघ्नं विष्णोश्चैव महात्मनः
kuṃjala uvāca | śṛṇu vatsa pravakṣyāmi vṛttāṃtaṃ devanirmitam | caritraṃ sarvapāpaghnaṃ viṣṇoścaiva mahātmanaḥ
กุญชละกล่าวว่า: ฟังเถิด ลูกเอ๋ย เราจักเล่าเรื่องราวอันเทพบันดาล—ตอนหนึ่งที่ทำลายบาปทั้งปวง—ว่าด้วยพระวิษณุผู้มีมหาจิต
Kuṃjala
Concept: Śravaṇa (devotional hearing) of Viṣṇu-caritra is intrinsically sin-destroying and spiritually elevating.
Application: Keep a daily practice of listening/reading a short Viṣṇu-kathā passage with attention and humility; treat it as inner cleansing rather than entertainment.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A venerable narrator-bird-sage, Kuṃjala, perches on a flowering aśoka branch, addressing a young listener with gentle authority. In the background, a faint vision of Viṣṇu’s lotus-navel cosmology shimmers like a mirage, suggesting that the forthcoming tale is ‘deva-nirmita’ and purifying.","primary_figures":["Kuṃjala","young listener (vat्सा/śiṣya figure)","Viṣṇu (visionary presence)"],"setting":"Forest hermitage edge with a small altar, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a distant celestial lotus-vision hovering in the sky.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["lotus pink","sapphire blue","gold leaf","leaf green","sandalwood beige"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Kuṃjala as a sacred narrator-bird with jeweled collar and halo, speaking to a seated child-sage near a small South Indian-style altar; behind them a radiant Viṣṇu vision on a lotus, heavy gold leaf embellishment, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, ornate arch framing the divine presence.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical forest hermitage with delicate brushwork; Kuṃjala on a flowering branch addressing a youthful listener; a soft, translucent Viṣṇu-lotus vision in the sky; cool greens and blues, refined faces, gentle narrative intimacy, distant hills and a thin river line.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; Kuṃjala with stylized eyes and decorative plumage, the listener in simple ascetic attire; a circular mandala-like Viṣṇu-lotus aura behind, red-yellow-green dominant palette, temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central lotus motif opening to reveal Viṣṇu’s presence; Kuṃjala and the listener at the lower register amid floral borders; intricate vines, peacocks, and lotus clusters; deep indigo background with gold detailing, devotional storytelling composition."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","rustling leaves","distant conch shell","gentle drone (tanpura)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुञ्जल उवाच इति वाक्य-भेदः; वृत्तान्तं (IAST vṛttāṃtaṃ) = वृत्तान्तम्; देव + निर्मितम् → देवनिर्मितम्; सर्व + पाप + घ्नम् → सर्वपापघ्नम्; विष्णोः + च + एव → विष्णोश्चैव।
FAQs
The speaker is Kuṃjala, addressing the listener as “vatsa” (“dear child”), indicating a teacher–student or elder–younger conversational tone.
“Sarva-pāpa-ghna” means “destroyer of all sins,” implying that hearing or contemplating Viṣṇu’s sacred deeds is presented as spiritually purifying.
The verse functions as an introduction to a divinely ordained narrative (vṛttānta) about the great-souled Lord Viṣṇu, emphasizing its devotional and purificatory value.