Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 14085
Brahmā’s Lotus-Birth, Puṣkara-Creation Imagery, Madhu–Kaiṭabha, and Early Genealogies
तस्यामेव सुरभ्यां च गावो जाताः सुराश्च ये । अजश्चैव तु हंसश्च तथैव नृपसत्तम
tasyāmeva surabhyāṃ ca gāvo jātāḥ surāśca ye | ajaścaiva tu haṃsaśca tathaiva nṛpasattama
اسی سُرَبھِی سے گائیں اور دیوتا پیدا ہوئے؛ اور اسی طرح بکری اور ہنس بھی، اے بہترین بادشاہ۔
Unspecified narrator (contextual dialogue not provided in the input)
Concept: Prosperity and sacred order are sustained through Surabhī—cows as dharma’s living support for yajña, hospitality, and social welfare.
Application: Practice compassion and stewardship: protect animals, reduce harm, support ethical dairy/ahimsa-based living, and cultivate generosity.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Surabhī, the celestial cow, stands upon a lotus meadow, her body shimmering with divine patterns as streams of creation flow from her—gentle cows, radiant devas, a sturdy goat, and a serene haṃsa gliding into being. A kingly listener is hinted at the edge, as if receiving this cosmic pastoral secret.","primary_figures":["Surabhī (Kāmadhenu)","newborn cows","devas (as luminous figures)","goat (aja)","haṃsa (gander/swan)","royal listener (nṛpasattama, optional)"],"setting":"Celestial pasture with lotus pools and soft cloud-hills","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["cream white","honey gold","sky blue","lotus pink","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Surabhī centered with ornate gold leaf halo and embossed floral motifs on her form; surrounding small devas and calves emerging, a white haṃsa near a lotus pond; rich reds/greens, gem-like ornamentation, decorative arch framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: idyllic pastoral scene with Surabhī near a clear lotus pond; delicate devas appearing like light in the air, a haṃsa on the water, a goat on the bank; cool blues and greens, fine brushwork, lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: Surabhī rendered with stylized features and patterned body, bold outlines; devas as symmetrical attendants; lotus pond and haṃsa simplified into iconic forms; warm reds/yellows/greens with temple-wall composition.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Surabhī amid dense lotus motifs and floral borders; haṃsa and cows arranged symmetrically; deep blue background with gold highlights, intricate vines, devotional pastoral abundance reminiscent of Krishna pichwai aesthetics."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["cowbells (soft)","birds","flowing water","tanpura drone","gentle temple bells"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्यामेव = तस्याम् + एव; सुराश्च = सुराः + च; अजश्चैव = अजः + च + एव; हंसश्च = हंसः + च; तथैव = तथा + एव.
FAQs
Surabhī is the divine, wish-fulfilling cow archetype in Purāṇic literature. This verse presents her as a generative source associated with the manifestation of sacred beings (like devas) and auspicious animals (like cows and haṃsa), highlighting her cosmogonic significance.
The haṃsa is a revered bird symbol in Sanskrit tradition, often linked with purity, discernment, and spiritual elevation. Its inclusion among beings born from Surabhī underscores a theme of auspicious, spiritually resonant creation within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa.
By tracing cows to a divine origin, the verse reinforces their sanctity and the cultural ethic of protection and reverence toward cows (go-rakṣā), framing them as part of a sacred cosmic order rather than merely economic animals.