Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 1
Signs at the Death of Sinners and the Approach of Yama’s Messengers
सोमशर्मोवाच । पापिनां मरणं भद्रे कीदृशैर्लक्षणैर्युतम् । तन्मे त्वं विस्तराद्ब्रूहि यदि जानासि भामिनि
somaśarmovāca | pāpināṃ maraṇaṃ bhadre kīdṛśairlakṣaṇairyutam | tanme tvaṃ vistarādbrūhi yadi jānāsi bhāmini
Somaśarmā nói: “Ôi hiền nữ cát tường, cái chết của kẻ tội lỗi đi kèm những dấu hiệu như thế nào? Nếu nàng biết, ôi người giai nhân, xin hãy nói cho ta tường tận.”
Somaśarmā
Concept: One should inquire into the consequences of pāpa and the signs of a sinful end to cultivate vigilance and reform before death arrives.
Application: Use the contemplation of mortality to reduce harmful habits, increase japa/charity, and adopt regular vrata discipline so the end is not fearful.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Somaśarmā, troubled, sits beside a learned woman in a quiet courtyard, his hands folded in earnest inquiry. In the background, faint symbolic shadows—an hourglass, a dimming lamp, and distant Yama-like silhouettes—hint at the ominous topic without becoming grotesque.","primary_figures":["Somaśarmā","Sumana (blessed lady)"],"setting":"A domestic āśrama courtyard with a low seat, palm-leaf manuscripts, and a small lamp; night approaching.","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["smoky violet","lamp-gold","ash gray","deep maroon","pale sandalwood"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Somaśarmā with folded hands questioning a dignified lady scholar, gold leaf accents on jewelry and lamp flame, rich maroons and greens, ornate border, subtle symbolic motifs of time and mortality in the background.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate dialogue scene under a twilight sky, delicate facial expressions of concern and compassion, cool blues and violets, fine textile patterns, a manuscript bundle and lamp rendered with lyrical detail.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: two figures in profile in a temple-like courtyard, bold outlines, expressive eyes, warm red/yellow/green pigments, stylized lamp and manuscript, restrained ominous motifs behind them.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central seated pair framed by floral borders and lotus motifs, narrative panels showing symbolic ‘death-omens’ as small vignettes, deep indigo ground with gold highlights, intricate textile ornamentation."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["night insects","soft wind","single temple bell","lamp wick hiss","brief silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सोमशर्मोवाच = सोमशर्मा + उवाच; कीदृशैर्लक्षणैर्युतम् = कीदृशैः + लक्षणैः + युतम्; तन्मे = तत् + मे; विस्तराद्ब्रूहि = विस्तरात् + ब्रूहि
FAQs
Somaśarmā asks for a detailed description of the signs (lakṣaṇas) that accompany the death of sinners (pāpinaḥ).
The speaker is Somaśarmā. The verse is framed as a dialogue with a woman addressed respectfully as bhadre/bhāmini, indicating a conversational teaching context.
It introduces the moral causality theme—how sinful conduct is believed to manifest consequences even at death, prompting reflection on dharma and right living.