Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 35
The Vena Episode: Sunīthā’s Māyā, Aṅga’s Enchantment, and the Birth of Vena
रंभोवाच । विप्रेंद्र त्वं शृणुष्वेह प्रतिज्ञां वच्मि सांप्रतम् । एषा नैव त्वया त्याज्या धर्मपत्नी तवैव हि
raṃbhovāca | vipreṃdra tvaṃ śṛṇuṣveha pratijñāṃ vacmi sāṃpratam | eṣā naiva tvayā tyājyā dharmapatnī tavaiva hi
رمبھا نے کہا: “اے برہمنوں کے سردار، یہاں غور سے سنو؛ میں اس وقت ایک مقدس عہد بیان کرتی ہوں۔ اس دھرم پتنی کو تم ہرگز نہ چھوڑنا، کیونکہ وہ یقیناً تمہاری ہی جائز بیوی ہے۔”
Rambhā
Concept: A dharma-patnī is not to be abandoned; marriage is upheld as a vow-bound sacrament demanding steadfastness.
Application: Treat commitments as sacred: protect those under your care, avoid impulsive abandonment, and let vows be guided by dharma rather than convenience.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rambhā stands poised and radiant, raising her hand in a solemn declaration, her words forming a protective circle around the bride’s status as dharma-patnī. The brāhmaṇa groom listens with gravity as witnesses and ritual objects affirm that this is not mere romance but sacred law.","primary_figures":["Rambhā (apsarā)","brāhmaṇa groom (viprendra)","lawful wife (dharma-patnī)","witnessing elders"],"setting":"A refined celestial-meets-earthly pavilion: silk canopies, garlands, a small ritual fire, and a threshold marked with auspicious rice designs; subtle apsarā elegance blended with dharma-ritual sobriety.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["lotus pink","pearl white","sapphire blue","soft gold","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Rambhā in front-facing grace with gold leaf aura, right hand lifted in vow, the groom seated respectfully, the wife beside him with modest posture, ornate jewelry with gem highlights, rich reds/greens, temple-like pillars, gold-embossed borders emphasizing solemn dharma.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: Rambhā rendered with delicate features and flowing garments, a quiet courtly pavilion, cool blues and pinks, fine floral patterns, the groom’s attentive gaze, understated emotion—steadfastness rather than drama—set against a pale, lyrical background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized Rambhā with bold outlines and large eyes, saturated pigments, symmetrical composition, ritual fire and auspicious motifs, strong reds/yellows/greens, vow-gesture emphasized with iconic clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ceremonial vow scene framed by lotus creepers and floral borders, deep blue ground with gold detailing, stylized figures, emphasis on auspiciousness and sanctity; include subtle conch and lamp motifs to suggest Vaiṣṇava dharma ambiance."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft tanpura drone","temple lamp crackle","gentle ankle-bells (subtle)","brief silence after the vow"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रंभोवाच = रंभा + उवाच; विप्रेंद्र = विप्र-इन्द्र; शृणुष्वेह = शृणुष्व + इह; नैव = न + एव; रूपेणापि (पूर्वश्लोके) इव अत्र संधि-प्रकारः.
FAQs
The speaker is Rambhā, and she addresses a “viprendra,” meaning an eminent or exemplary brāhmaṇa.
It emphasizes fidelity to dharma within marriage: a lawful wife (dharmapatnī) is not to be abandoned, underscoring responsibility, commitment, and moral duty.
By framing the instruction as a “pratijñā” (solemn vow) and grounding it in the status of “dharmapatnī,” the verse highlights dharma as binding through vows and relational duties, a recurring theme across the Purāṇic discourse.