Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 5
Nahusha’s Challenge to Hunda and the Mustering of Battle
रथेन साश्वसूतेन दिव्येन परितिष्ठति । धनुषा दिव्यबाणैस्तु सभायां हि भयंकरः
rathena sāśvasūtena divyena paritiṣṭhati | dhanuṣā divyabāṇaistu sabhāyāṃ hi bhayaṃkaraḥ
وہ گھوڑوں اور سارَتھی سمیت ایک الٰہی رتھ پر سوار، آمادہ کھڑا ہے۔ کمان اور آسمانی تیروں کے ساتھ سبھا میں وہ نہایت ہیبت ناک دکھائی دیتا ہے۔
Unspecified (context needed to identify the narrator within Adhyaya 114)
Concept: Dharma is defended through readiness and righteous strength when adharma threatens the community.
Application: Cultivate preparedness and courage; use power only in service of protection and justice, not ego.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: city
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A formidable warrior stands in a vast pillared assembly hall, poised on a radiant divine chariot with a steady charioteer and restless celestial horses. He raises a bow strung with light, quiver brimming with luminous astras, while courtiers recoil in fearful silence as the air thickens with impending conflict.","primary_figures":["Armored warrior on divine chariot","Charioteer","Celestial horses","Alarmed courtiers/guards"],"setting":"Grand sabhā with carved pillars, jeweled canopy, polished stone floor reflecting the chariot’s glow; banners and weapon-racks at the periphery.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","burnished gold","smoky charcoal","crimson lacquer","pearl white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a radiant sabhā interior with towering pillars and a divine chariot at center, gold leaf embellishment on the chariot, bow, and ornaments; rich reds and greens in textiles, gem-studded jewelry, stylized horses with ornate harnesses, dramatic yet devotional iconography, embossed halos and gilded borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: delicate brushwork showing a court hall with refined arches, cool slate shadows, the warrior poised on a luminous chariot, expressive faces of startled courtiers, lyrical detailing of horse manes and patterned carpets, restrained yet vivid palette with Himalayan-style atmospheric depth.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, flat yet powerful forms; the chariot and horses rendered with temple-wall grandeur, large almond eyes, strong reds/yellows/greens; divine weapons glowing with stylized flame motifs; symmetrical composition like a sanctum mural.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate architectural frame with lotus and floral borders; central chariot scene rendered with intricate textile patterns, deep blues and gold; peacock-feather-like motifs in banners; stylized attendants and decorative symmetry, devotional grandeur despite martial theme."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Durga","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","murmuring assembly","hoofbeats","bowstring twang (suggested)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: साश्वसूतेन = स + अश्व + सूतेन (सकार-संधि); दिव्यबाणैस्तु → दिव्यबाणैः तु
FAQs
This single verse describes a fearsome figure but does not name him; identifying the person requires the surrounding verses of Adhyaya 114.
A sabhā is the public space of royal or divine deliberation where dharma, justice, and power are displayed; describing a warrior as “fearsome in the sabhā” highlights political and moral tension before witnesses.
It emphasizes the awe and gravity of martial power when brought into a public forum; however, the ethical lesson (righteous protection vs. intimidation) depends on the broader narrative context.