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
ครั้นเห็นนางเหล่านั้น บุรุษทั้งหลาย—แม้ผู้เลิศในหมู่ผู้มีพักตร์ดุจจันทร์—ก็ถึงกับหลงใหลตะลึงงัน ในเมืองอันรื่นรมย์นั้น มีทวิชนามว่า กฤษณเทวะ
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.