Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 3
Nahusha’s Challenge to Hunda and the Mustering of Battle
गच्छ वीर ममादेशाज्जानीहि पुरुषं हि तम् । संभाषते तया सार्द्धं पुरुषः शिवकन्यया
gaccha vīra mamādeśājjānīhi puruṣaṃ hi tam | saṃbhāṣate tayā sārddhaṃ puruṣaḥ śivakanyayā
“جا، اے بہادر! میرے حکم سے جا کر معلوم کر کہ وہ مرد کون ہے۔ وہ وہاں شِو کی بیٹی کے ساتھ مل کر گفتگو کر رہا ہے۔”
Unspecified (a commanding figure addressing a messenger/warrior)
Concept: Authority issues commands to investigate identity—identity (nāma-rūpa) becomes the trigger for conflict; discernment precedes action.
Application: Before judging or confronting, seek facts; courage should be guided by inquiry rather than assumption.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A fierce commander points outward from the throne dais, ordering a warrior to depart at once. In the distance, framed like a prophetic glimpse, a secluded grove shows a man speaking with Śiva’s daughter—an encounter that could ignite war or scandal.","primary_figures":["commanding asura/daitya leader (unspecified)","warrior-messenger (vīra)","Nahuṣa (implied as ‘that man’)","Śiva’s daughter (unnamed)"],"setting":"foreground: throne-room command; background vignette: secluded grove or palace garden where the conversation occurs","lighting_mood":"storm-charged twilight","color_palette":["iron grey","saffron flare","deep maroon","forest green","pale jasmine"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: commanding figure on a throne gesturing decisively, warrior receiving orders with folded hands and ready stance; gold leaf on crowns and armlets, rich reds/greens; inset grove scene with the man and Śiva’s daughter under flowering trees, ornate borders and lotus motifs, dramatic posture and clear iconographic separation between court and grove.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: split-scene composition—left: court interior with the commander’s pointing gesture; right: delicate grove with two figures conversing; cool palette with refined faces, detailed foliage, gentle architectural frames, narrative clarity through spatial partitioning.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and dynamic pointing gesture, warrior in energetic stride; background grove simplified into stylized trees; red/yellow/green pigments, temple-wall symmetry, expressive eyes emphasizing urgency.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative register with ornate floral borders; central command scene with symmetrical attendants, and a lower register grove conversation amid lotus and creeper motifs; deep blue ground with gold highlights, peacocks near the grove to heighten the charged beauty of the meeting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["martial drum","conch shell","footsteps","rustling banners","wind rising"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ममादेशाज्जानीहि → मम आदेशात् जानीहि; संभाषते → सम्-भाषते; शिवकन्यया = शिवस्य कन्यया (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
FAQs
The verse uses the phrase “śiva-kanyā” (“Śiva’s daughter”) without naming her. Identifying her requires the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 114 to determine the narrative context and the specific character intended.
A superior issues an order to a “vīra” (brave messenger/agent) to go and ascertain the identity of a man who is conversing with Śiva’s daughter.
The verse highlights disciplined obedience and careful verification: rather than acting on assumption, the agent is instructed to investigate and confirm identity before further action.