Padma Purana — Patala Khanda, Shloka 57
The Episode of Cyavana
Cyavana’s Hermitage and the Power of Tapas
तदालोक्य नृपो भीतः किंचिदुद्विग्नमानसः । जनानपृच्छत्केनापि मुनये त्वपराधितम्
tadālokya nṛpo bhītaḥ kiṃcidudvignamānasaḥ | janānapṛcchatkenāpi munaye tvaparādhitam
Nang makita iyon, natakot ang hari at bahagyang nabagabag ang kanyang isipan. Tinanong niya ang mga tao, “Sino ang nagkasala at nakapagpasama ng loob sa banal na muni?”
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator describing the king’s reaction)
Concept: A wise ruler responds to calamity by searching for moral causes—especially offenses to sages—and by restoring dharma through humility and repair.
Application: When problems escalate, ask not only ‘what happened’ but ‘whom did we hurt?’—then make amends promptly, especially to teachers, elders, and the vulnerable.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: vira
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"In a tense royal assembly, the king rises from his throne, eyes widened yet steadying into resolve. Courtiers and townspeople cluster below as he asks who has offended a sage, while a hush falls—everyone sensing that the remedy lies in confession and appeasement.","primary_figures":["the king (nṛpa)","courtiers","townspeople","a sage figure (symbolic/anticipated)"],"setting":"royal court hall with throne, pillars, and gathered subjects","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["royal blue","burnished gold","stone gray","crimson","white jasmine"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: king standing in a jeweled court, hand raised in inquiry, courtiers and citizens assembled; gold leaf on throne, crown, and pillar capitals; rich reds/greens/royal blue garments; expressive faces showing fear and dawning responsibility; traditional iconographic symmetry.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: court scene with refined architecture, the king slightly forward from the throne, delicate gestures of questioning; soft pastel palette with cool grays and blues; detailed textiles and turbans; emotional nuance in faces and spacing.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal court composition, bold outlines, large expressive eyes; king in heroic stance, attendants in rhythmic rows; red/yellow/green pigments with gold-like highlights; ornamental borders suggesting dharmic order being restored through inquiry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: court rendered as decorative pavilion with floral borders; king centered, subjects arranged symmetrically; deep blue ground with gold accents; lotus motifs framing the moral question, hinting at Vishnu’s unseen governance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["court murmurs fading to silence","single temple bell strike","conch shell (soft, distant)","footsteps on stone"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tadālokya = tad + ālokya; kiṃcidudvignamānasaḥ = kiṃcit + udvigna-mānasaḥ; janānapṛcchatkenāpi = janān + apṛcchat + kena + api; tvaparādhitam = tu + aparādhitam.
FAQs
It highlights the king’s fear and moral urgency upon realizing that a sage has been offended, implying serious karmic and social consequences for such an aparādha.
Sages are portrayed as guardians of tapas (spiritual power) and dharma; harming or insulting them is considered a direct violation of dharma that can quickly yield adverse results.
When wrongdoing is suspected—especially against the virtuous—one should investigate promptly, accept accountability, and seek restoration rather than ignore the harm.