Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 3
Marks of the Debt-Bound/Enemy Son, Filial Dharma, Detachment, and the Durvāsā–Dharma Episode
गुणं नैव प्रपश्येत स क्रूरो निष्ठुराकृतिः । जल्पते निष्ठुरं वाक्यं सदैव स्वजनेषु च
guṇaṃ naiva prapaśyeta sa krūro niṣṭhurākṛtiḥ | jalpate niṣṭhuraṃ vākyaṃ sadaiva svajaneṣu ca
وہ ہرگز نیکی کو نہیں دیکھتا؛ وہ ظالم ہے اور فطرتاً سنگ دل۔ وہ ہمیشہ سخت کلامی کرتا ہے—خصوصاً اپنے ہی لوگوں کے ساتھ۔
Unspecified (context needed from surrounding verses of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 12)
Concept: Cruel temperament and harsh speech—especially toward one’s own—are marks of deep adharma and spiritual blindness to virtue.
Application: Practice restraint in speech; cultivate empathy at home first; if anger rises, pause, recite a Vishnu name, and speak only what is true, beneficial, and timely.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a family courtyard, the cruel figure leans forward with a pointed finger, his mouth shaped in sharp words, while relatives recoil in pain. Above, a faint, serene Vishnu icon in the household shrine contrasts the turbulence below, suggesting dharma ignored within the very space of worship.","primary_figures":["cruel ‘ṛṇa-sambandhin’ son figure","distressed family members","small Vishnu shrine icon (symbolic)"],"setting":"Domestic interior with a visible family altar, emphasizing the irony of harshness amid sacred space.","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["burnt umber","lamp amber","indigo shadow","pale ivory","rust red"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: dramatic domestic scene with ornate pillars; central figure speaking harshly, family in sorrow; a small Vishnu shrine with gold-leaf halo and arch in the background; rich reds and greens, gold embellishment highlighting the contrast between sacred and profane conduct.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate household vignette, delicate facial expressions showing hurt and anger, soft interior lighting, refined textiles, subtle shrine detail, restrained palette conveying emotional tension without exaggeration.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, expressive eyes, the harsh speaker in dynamic posture, family figures in lament, warm ochre and red tones, shrine motif stylized, moral tableau composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: narrative panel framed by lotus borders; central conflict scene rendered symbolically, with a small Krishna/Vishnu emblem above as witness; deep blue ground, gold highlights, intricate floral patterns emphasizing dharma as the true ornament."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"emotional","sound_elements":["single bell strike","low mridangam roll","household murmurs fading into silence","wind through courtyard"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नैव = न + एव; निष्ठुराकृतिः = निष्ठुर + आकृतिः (कर्मधारय); स्वजनेषु = स्व + जनेषु (तत्पुरुष)।
FAQs
It warns that cruelty shows itself in an inability to recognize goodness and in habitual harsh speech, even toward one’s own family or community.
It highlights that a truly harsh disposition often manifests most painfully in close relationships, where kindness and restraint are most needed.
Indirectly: it supports devotional and dharmic life by stressing moral discipline—especially purity of speech—which is foundational for any spiritual practice.