Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 9
Dialogue of Gobhila and Padmāvatī: Daitya Obstruction vs. the Power of Pativratā Dharma
पतिव्रतां महाभागां सुमतिं भर्तृतत्पराम् । दूरेणापि परित्यज्य तिष्ठामो नात्र संशयः
pativratāṃ mahābhāgāṃ sumatiṃ bhartṛtatparām | dūreṇāpi parityajya tiṣṭhāmo nātra saṃśayaḥ
سُمتی نہایت بخت والی پتی ورتا اور شوہر پر یکسو ہے؛ اسے دور ہی سے چھوڑ کر ہم یہیں ٹھہریں گے—اس میں کوئی شک نہیں۔
Unspecified (context-dependent narration/dialogue within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Pativratā-dharma (steadfast conjugal fidelity) generates a protective spiritual force that hostile beings avoid.
Application: Cultivate integrity and steadfastness in one’s vows and relationships; spiritual strength often appears as quiet consistency rather than outward power.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At the threshold of a humble home, Sumati stands serene, hands folded, her presence radiating a quiet brilliance that makes unseen malevolent beings recoil. The air around her seems purified, as if an invisible circle of light expands from her steadfast devotion.","primary_figures":["Sumati (pativratā)","shadowy dānavas/rākṣasas (retreating, partially visible)"],"setting":"Village household courtyard or āśrama threshold with tulsi-vedi implied but not explicit, earthen lamps, and a simple doorway","lighting_mood":"soft dawn radiance with a protective halo-like glow","color_palette":["warm sandalwood beige","lotus pink","soft gold","indigo shadow","white jasmine"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Sumati in traditional attire with rich gold jewelry and a luminous gold-leaf aura, standing at a decorated threshold; retreating dark figures at the margins; ornate arch framing, rich reds and greens, and gold leaf emphasizing her vow-born tejas.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a gentle domestic scene with delicate facial features and fine textiles; Sumati calm and centered, while small dark rākṣasa silhouettes withdraw into trees; cool morning sky, refined brushwork, and lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Sumati rendered iconically with bold outlines and large expressive eyes, a radiant circular aura behind her; rākṣasas stylized at the border, recoiling; natural pigments with red-yellow-green dominance and symmetrical composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Sumati as a central devotional figure framed by floral borders and lotus motifs; a symbolic ring of light around her, with dark encroaching forms pushed outward; deep blues and gold detailing, textile-like ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["morning birds","soft temple bell","gentle wind","distant conch (very faint)","silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: दूरेणापि = दूरेण + अपि (अ + अ → आ); नात्र = न + अत्र (a-sandhi: न + अत्र → नात्र).
FAQs
Sumati is the woman explicitly named in the verse, praised as mahābhāgā (highly fortunate/noble) and pativratā—one devoted to her husband.
The verse foregrounds pativratā-dharma—steadfast marital fidelity and single-minded dedication to one’s spouse—as a mark of virtue and auspiciousness.
It literally means “having left (someone) even from far away,” suggesting separation/abandonment at a distance, while the speakers resolve to remain where they are.