Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 35
The Deception of Vṛtra
येनकेनाप्युपायेन यथा हत्वा लभे सुखम् । तथा कुरुष्व कल्याणि संमोहाय सुरद्विषः
yenakenāpyupāyena yathā hatvā labhe sukham | tathā kuruṣva kalyāṇi saṃmohāya suradviṣaḥ
اے کلیانی! جس کسی بھی تدبیر سے اسے ہلاک کر کے مجھے سکھ حاصل ہو، دیوتاؤں کے دشمنوں کو گمراہ کرنے کے لیے تم وہی کرو۔
Unspecified (context-required; likely a demon/anti-deva figure addressing a female ally, e.g., a consort or sorceress)
Concept: The ‘any means’ mentality is the signature of āsuric ethics; it seeks sukha through harm and delusion, opposed to dharmic happiness rooted in restraint and devotion.
Application: Reject shortcuts that harm others; examine motivations behind ‘success’; choose means consistent with values, especially in leadership and conflict.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A dark council chamber: a commanding figure leans forward, issuing a ruthless order to an elegant yet uneasy ally, demanding delusion as a weapon. The scene is heavy with incense and shadow, where beauty is made complicit in violence, revealing the ugliness beneath polished words.","primary_figures":["a ruthless commander (asura or anti-deva strategist)","a female ally/messenger (apsaras or sorceress figure, context-dependent)","shadowy attendants"],"setting":"dimly lit palace chamber or cavernous hall with banners, weapons, and perfumed smoke","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit with harsh chiaroscuro","color_palette":["obsidian black","blood red","tarnished gold","smoke gray","dark teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: intense command scene—throne or dais with the commander gesturing sharply; the female figure adorned in gold yet shown with conflicted eyes; gold leaf on ornaments and pillars, rich reds/greens, dramatic shadows painted as deep maroons to convey moral darkness.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate interior with fine detailing—low lamps, patterned textiles, tense body language; restrained palette with cool shadows; refined faces showing coercion and reluctance; architectural framing that tightens the psychological pressure.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines and expressive eyes; the commander’s posture aggressive, the female figure poised yet constrained; strong red/yellow/green pigments with black contouring; stylized smoke curls and weapon motifs in the border.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: allegorical rendering—central figures framed by ornate floral borders; darker palette than typical, with deep blues and gold; motifs of entangling vines symbolizing moha; intricate textile patterns, peacocks subdued, emphasizing moral inversion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast-dramatic","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low drum pulse","metallic clang (weapon/armor)","faint ominous drone","sudden silence at command’s end"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: येन + केन + अपि → येनकेनापि; येनकेनापि + उपायेन → येनकेनाप्युपायेन.
FAQs
“Kalyāṇi” is a vocative meaning “O auspicious lady,” addressed to a female agent or ally; the precise identity depends on the surrounding narrative of Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 24.
It depicts a ruthless, ends-justify-means mindset—seeking personal happiness through killing and deception—serving as a negative exemplar contrasted with dharmic restraint.
It frames the plan as one of “bewilderment/delusion” directed at those opposed to the devas, implying the use of māyā, trickery, or psychological manipulation as a tactic in divine–demonic conflict.