Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 72
The Glory of Guru-Tīrtha: The Guru as Supreme Pilgrimage
Prelude: Cyavana and the Parable Cycle
प्लक्षद्वीपस्य राजानः समाहूता महात्मना । स्वयंवरार्थमाहूतास्तथा ते धर्मतत्पराः
plakṣadvīpasya rājānaḥ samāhūtā mahātmanā | svayaṃvarārthamāhūtāstathā te dharmatatparāḥ
پلاکشدویپ کے بادشاہ اُس عظیم النفس نے بلائے؛ سویمور کے مقصد سے انہیں دعوت دی گئی، اور وہ بھی دھرم کے پابند تھے۔
Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context-dependent within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa 85)
Concept: Even dharma-oriented assemblies can become arenas where desire is tested; social rites (svayaṃvara) require inner restraint to remain dharmic.
Application: Approach public honors/competitions with humility; keep vows and ethics intact when status and attraction are involved.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast island-court of Plakṣadvīpa opens like a mandala: a dharma-assembly of crowned kings arriving in orderly ranks, summoned for a svayaṃvara. In the center, a raised pavilion with lotus-carved pillars hints at destiny—garlands sway, conches sound, and the air is thick with restrained ambition.","primary_figures":["kings of Plakṣadvīpa","the great-souled summoner (mahātmā)","attendants and heralds"],"setting":"royal svayaṃvara pavilion on a mythic dvīpa, with concentric terraces, banners, and ritual fire altars at the edges","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["burnished gold","lotus pink","emerald green","ivory white","sapphire blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a grand svayaṃvara sabhā on Plakṣadvīpa, rows of jeweled kings with tall crowns and silk angavastras, central lotus-pillared pavilion, conch-bearing heralds, ornate arches; heavy gold leaf embellishment on crowns, pillars, and jewelry, rich reds and greens, gem-studded ornaments, traditional South Indian court iconography, symmetrical composition with decorative borders.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical svayaṃvara scene with delicate brushwork—kings arriving in procession, soft facial features, patterned textiles, a lotus pavilion amid stylized trees and distant hills; cool yet festive palette, fine linework, airy negative space, subtle expressions of anticipation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments—royal assembly with rhythmic repetition of crowned figures, central pavilion with lotus motifs, ritual attendants with conch and lamp; characteristic large eyes, red/yellow/green dominance, temple-wall aesthetic with ornamental bands.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ceremonial court rendered with lotus borders and floral arabesques, deep blue ground with gold highlights; central pavilion framed by peacocks and stylized lotuses, rows of kings as decorative rhythm, intricate textile patterns and ornate margins in Nathdwara-inspired detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["conch shell","temple bells","murmur of assembly","silk banners fluttering","distant drums"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्वयंवरार्थमाहूताः = स्वयंवरार्थम् + आहूताः; (म् + आ) संधिः।
FAQs
Plakṣadvīpa is one of the dvīpas (cosmographical continents/islands) described in Purāṇic geography, used to map sacred and royal lineages within a larger mythic-cosmological framework.
Svayaṃvara is a formal ceremony in which a bride chooses her husband from among assembled eligible kings or suitors; the verse states the rulers were invited specifically for this event.
It highlights that even in political and marital alliances, the ideal participants are those who are dharma-tatpara—committed to righteousness and proper conduct.