Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 29
Kāma and Indra’s Attempt to Shatter Chastity; the ‘Abode of Satya’ and the Ethics of the Virtuous Home
एष हंतुं सहस्राक्ष उद्यतः कामसंयुतः । यथा चेंद्रेण नायाति काम एष तथा कुरु
eṣa haṃtuṃ sahasrākṣa udyataḥ kāmasaṃyutaḥ | yathā ceṃdreṇa nāyāti kāma eṣa tathā kuru
اے سہسرآکش اندر! یہ کام کے ساتھ جڑا ہوا مارنے کو تیار ہے۔ ایسا کرو کہ یہ خواہش اندر پر غالب نہ آئے۔
Unspecified (context-dependent within Adhyaya 56 dialogue)
Concept: Act so that kāma does not seize the mind—even of Indra; vigilance and deliberate action prevent desire from becoming destiny.
Application: Use ‘pre-commitment’ strategies: avoid triggers, seek counsel, redirect attention to duty and prayer; intervene early when you see desire escalating in yourself or others.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A counselor figure raises a hand in warning as Indra stands poised to act, Kāma hovering nearby like a spark near dry grass. The scene captures the decisive moment before wrongdoing: the air is taut, yet a cool current of wisdom seems to flow between speaker and Indra, urging restraint.","primary_figures":["Indra (Sahasrākṣa)","Kāma","Admonishing speaker (unnamed counselor/householder/sage)"],"setting":"Threshold space—between hermitage and sky—suggesting a moral crossroads; a small shrine lamp and protective markings on the ground emphasize dharmic boundaries.","lighting_mood":"lamp-lit threshold with cool calming aura","color_palette":["deep blue","cool white","gold","terracotta","sage green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Indra in ornate regalia with gold-leaf halo stands at a threshold; Kāma nearby with bow and floral arrows; the counselor points in admonition, a small oil lamp and sacred markings in foreground; rich reds/greens, heavy gold leaf, gem-like ornament detail, dramatic moral pause.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate counsel scene with refined gestures, Indra’s face showing hesitation, Kāma rendered lightly as a hovering presence; cool blues and soft whites, delicate architecture/threshold, lyrical restraint rather than spectacle.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, counselor’s raised hand, Indra’s large eyes reflecting inner conflict, Kāma stylized with red accents; temple-lamp motif, natural pigments with strong blue/green and warm gold highlights.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral tableau framed by ornate floral borders; Indra and Kāma near a shrine lamp, counselor figure central; deep blues and gold, lotus motifs symbolizing purity, peacocks and vines as decorative elements emphasizing the choice of restraint."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["single bell strike","conch shell (soft)","steady tanpura","quiet wind","brief pause after the injunction"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चेंद्रेण = च + इन्द्रेण; नायाति = न + आयाति
FAQs
It warns that actions—especially violent or impulsive ones—can be fueled by kāma (desire), and urges Indra to act so that desire does not overpower judgment.
Sahasrākṣa (“thousand-eyed”) is a traditional epithet of Indra, emphasizing his divine status and vigilance—ironically underscoring that even the vigilant must guard against desire.
The verse highlights self-mastery: one should prevent desire from becoming the motive force behind decisions, especially when those decisions involve harm or conflict.