Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 19
Sukalā’s Episode: Padmāvatī’s Crisis, the Speaking Embryo (Kālanemi), and Sudevā’s Begging at Śivaśarmā’s House
आत्मकर्मविपाकेन जीवंति च म्रियंति च । आमगर्भाः प्रयांत्यन्ये अपक्वास्तु महीतले
ātmakarmavipākena jīvaṃti ca mriyaṃti ca | āmagarbhāḥ prayāṃtyanye apakvāstu mahītale
ด้วยวิบากแห่งกรรมของตนเอง สัตว์ทั้งหลายย่อมมีชีวิตและย่อมตาย บางพวกจากไปตั้งแต่อยู่ในครรภ์ ส่วนบางพวกยังไม่สุกงอมก็ยังคงอยู่บนแผ่นดิน
Unspecified (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa narration)
Concept: Birth and death unfold according to one’s own karma-vipāka; even gestation and ‘ripeness’ for life are governed by prior deeds.
Application: Replace blame and panic with responsibility: cultivate puṇya now (service, restraint, devotion) and offer compassion to those facing loss, recognizing unseen karmic causes without becoming fatalistic.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic tableau of samsāra: translucent silhouettes of jīvas moving along a karmic current—some fading within a womb-like lotus bud, others stepping onto the earth still ‘unripe,’ watched by a serene, unseen cosmic order. The imagery emphasizes the mystery of timing—life and death as ripened fruit falling by unseen law.","primary_figures":["symbolic jīvas","personified Kāla (Time) as a shadowy presence","lotus-womb motif"],"setting":"cosmic-ethical landscape blending a lotus pond (womb symbolism) with an earthly plain","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["smoky violet","silver moon-white","lotus pink","deep teal","ashen gray"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: allegorical scene—lotus-bud wombs with tiny jīva forms, a stylized earth plane below, and a subtle Kāla figure; gold leaf accents outlining the lotus and cosmic arcs, rich crimson borders, ornate patterning to suggest karmic law.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical allegory—soft hills and a lotus lake, delicate jīva forms like fireflies; cool blues and greens, fine brushwork, gentle gradations conveying impermanence and quiet awe.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold, iconic lotus-womb motif with simplified jīva figures; rhythmic bands representing karma-vipāka, strong reds/yellows/greens with black outlines, temple-wall solemnity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: lotus pond filled with womb-like buds, swirling floral borders; symbolic jīvas as small golden dots, deep indigo field, intricate vine motifs representing karmic threads."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["low tanpura drone","soft conch in distance","stillness","occasional wind hush"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रयान्ति+अन्ये → प्रयांत्यन्ये (इ+अ → य्); अपक्वाः+तु → अपक्वास्तु (आः+तु → आस्तु).
FAQs
It states that life-span and death occur according to the maturation (vipāka) of one’s own past actions, highlighting karmic causality rather than randomness.
It attributes even departure in the womb (āmagarbha) to the fruition of karma—some beings leave before full development due to prior causes.
Since outcomes are shaped by one’s deeds, it encourages ethical conduct, self-restraint, and responsibility for actions as causes of future well-being and longevity.