Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 42
The Birth of King Pṛthu: Vena’s Fall, the Sages’ Churning, and Earth’s Surrender
लंबोदरं व्यूढकर्णमतिभीतं दुरोदरम् । ददृशुस्ते महात्मानो निषीदेत्यब्रुवंस्ततः
laṃbodaraṃ vyūḍhakarṇamatibhītaṃ durodaram | dadṛśuste mahātmāno niṣīdetyabruvaṃstataḥ
انہوں نے اسے دیکھا—بڑا پیٹ، پھیلے ہوئے کان، سخت خوف زدہ اور پیٹ سے دبلا؛ پھر ان مہان آتماؤں نے کہا، “بیٹھ جا۔”
Narrative voice (the text describing what the mahātmānas said)
Concept: Dharma sometimes restores order not by annihilation but by containment—assigning a disruptive force its proper boundary and station.
Application: When confronting harmful impulses or conflicts, set clear boundaries and ‘seat’ them—contain, regulate, and redirect rather than letting chaos roam.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The sages behold the frightened, pot-bellied figure with spread ears, his posture hunched and uncertain. With a firm, almost mantra-like command—‘Sit’—they gesture downward, and the chaotic energy of the moment settles into uneasy order.","primary_figures":["Mahārṣis","Niṣāda (frightened figure)"],"setting":"edge of a ritual arena where light meets shadow; kusa grass and a low altar nearby, with wilderness hinted beyond","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["earth brown","leaf green","ashen white","deep indigo","muted gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: sages with gold-leaf halos extending a commanding hand-mudrā, the frightened figure seated low, ornate borders and rich reds/greens, gold leaf emphasizing the authority of dharma and the containment of chaos.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle yet tense scene—soft natural background, sages’ calm faces contrasted with the figure’s fear, delicate brushwork capturing the moment of submission, cool greens and browns with a restrained palette.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, clear gesture of command, seated figure with exaggerated ears and belly, strong narrative readability, natural pigments with warm yellows and greens.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central seated figure under the sages’ directive, framed by floral borders; deep blue and gold accents, lotus motifs suggesting cosmic order reasserting itself even in a liminal episode."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["single bell strike","rustling leaves","soft conch undertone","brief silence after the command"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ददृशुस्ते = ददृशुः + ते (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + त् → स् त्). निषीदेत्यब्रुवंस्ततः = निषीद + इति + अब्रुवन् + ततः (इति → त्य; अब्रुवन् + ततः: न् + त् → न्स्/ंस्त् लेखन).
FAQs
The term “mahātmānaḥ” literally means “great-souled ones” and typically refers to venerable sages or spiritually elevated persons within the narrative context.
It depicts a figure with striking physical traits (pot-bellied, wide ears) who is also emotionally distressed (very frightened) and in a wretched condition, setting a tone of vulnerability before the sages address him.
Inviting someone to sit is a basic act of reception and reassurance—suggesting the sages respond to fear with calm hospitality and a willingness to hear the person out.