Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 67
Aśokasundarī and Huṇḍa: Chastity, Karma, and the Foretold Rise of Nahuṣa
पुनः स्वरूपी दैत्येंद्रः कामबाणप्रपीडितः । करसंपुटमाबध्य उवाच वचनं तदा
punaḥ svarūpī daityeṃdraḥ kāmabāṇaprapīḍitaḥ | karasaṃpuṭamābadhya uvāca vacanaṃ tadā
پھر دَیتوں کا سردار اپنے اصلی روپ میں لوٹا؛ کام دیو کے تیروں سے ستایا ہوا، اس نے دونوں ہاتھ جوڑ کر اُس وقت یہ کلمات کہے۔
Daityendra (king of the Daityas)
Concept: Even the mighty become pitiable when conquered by desire; power without self-mastery collapses into supplication.
Application: Notice how craving changes posture and speech; practice pause, breath, and mantra before acting from impulse.
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The daitya-king stands in a jeweled hall, his form settling back into its true, formidable shape after a moment of disguise. Yet his hands fold into an añjali, and his face—despite crown and weapons—shows the vulnerability of one pierced by Kāma’s unseen arrows.","primary_figures":["Daityendra (king of the Daityas)","Kāma (as invisible force or faint iconographic presence)"],"setting":"Palace interior with carved pillars, hanging lamps, and a distant glimpse of the swing-courtyard.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["deep maroon","burnished gold","smoky black","emerald green","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: daitya-king in full regalia returning to his true form, hands in añjali; gold-leaf pillars and archways; subtle depiction of Kāma’s arrows as gilded motifs in the air; rich reds/greens, heavy jewelry, embossed halos and borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior scene, delicate linework showing folded hands and conflicted expression; soft lamp glow; minimal but elegant architectural framing; faint floral arrow motifs drifting toward him.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: strong outlines, stylized añjali gesture, expressive eyes showing agitation; warm lamp yellows and reds; ornamental pillar patterns; symbolic arrow shapes around the chest area.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central figure with ornate borders; stylized floral arrows and creepers representing Kāma; deep blue background with gold highlights; symmetrical palace motifs framing the supplicant posture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["soft mridanga strokes","lamp crackle","distant conch echo (ironic)","hushed court ambience"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दैत्येंद्रः → दैत्येन्द्रः; करसंपुटमाबध्य → करसंपुटम् + आबध्य
FAQs
The speaker is the Daityendra (the king of the Daityas). He is described as being tormented by Kāma’s arrows, i.e., overwhelmed by desire or love’s agitation.
It indicates a gesture of folded hands (añjali), suggesting humility, supplication, or earnest pleading before he speaks.
The imagery suggests that desire can overpower even the mighty, prompting humility and a change in behavior—often leading to confession, request, or a turning point in the narrative.