Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 25
The Account of Sukalā in the Vena Episode: The Sow, the Sons, and Royal Restraint
कस्मादुपेक्षसे कांत तन्मे त्वं कारणं वद । तामुवाच महाराजो नाहं हन्मि इमां स्त्रियम्
kasmādupekṣase kāṃta tanme tvaṃ kāraṇaṃ vada | tāmuvāca mahārājo nāhaṃ hanmi imāṃ striyam
اے پیارے، تم مجھے کیوں نظر انداز کر رہے ہو؟ مجھے وجہ بتاؤ۔ مہاراج نے اسے جواب دیا، میں اس عورت کو نہیں ماروں گا۔
Narrator (introducing dialogue); then Mahārāja (the great king) replies
Concept: Ahimsa and moral restraint can prevail even under provocation; the righteous ruler refuses to kill a woman.
Application: Hold boundaries without cruelty; refuse disproportionate harm, especially toward the vulnerable, even when anger feels justified.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The queen, anxious and insistent, leans toward the king, her eyes searching; the king answers with calm firmness, palm slightly raised in a gesture of restraint. Around them, courtiers hold their breath—war and vengeance press in, yet a quiet ethical light steadies the scene.","primary_figures":["king (mahārāja)","queen (kāntā/rājñī)","courtiers/guards"],"setting":"royal pavilion or palace chamber with war implements nearby, suggesting imminent decision","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["warm amber","sandalwood beige","ruby red","peacock green","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: king seated or standing in composed majesty, right hand raised in a gesture of mercy, queen pleading beside him; gold-leaf aura around the king to signify dharmic resolve, rich reds/greens in textiles, gem-studded ornaments, lotus border emphasizing śānti through restraint.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate court scene with subtle emotion—queen’s concerned tilt, king’s serene gaze; cool yet warm-balanced palette, fine textile patterns, a quiet background that amplifies the moral choice.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic frontal king with calm eyes, queen in profile speaking; bold outlines, red/yellow/green pigments, lamp motifs and stylized pillars; the raised palm becomes the central symbol of ahiṃsā.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral tableau framed by lotus vines and floral borders; deep blue ground with gold highlights, central figures stylized, peacocks and cows as auspicious witnesses; the king’s gesture of restraint rendered as the compositional focus."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","low tanpura drone","quiet court ambience","brief silence after 'nāhaṃ hanmi'"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कस्मादुपेक्षसे → कस्मात् उपेक्षसे; तन्मे → तत् मे; तामुवाच → ताम् उवाच; नाहं → न अहम्
FAQs
It highlights dharmic restraint: the king explicitly refuses violence against a woman, presenting moral limits on power and punishment.
The verse first reports a woman addressing her beloved (“Why do you ignore me?”), then the narration states that the great king replies, refusing to kill “this woman.”
Not directly. This shloka is primarily a dialogue centered on conduct (dharma) and the king’s ethical decision, rather than pilgrimage geography or devotional theology.