Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 39
The Birth of King Pṛthu: Vena’s Fall, the Sages’ Churning, and Earth’s Surrender
यदा न शक्यते मोहादवलेपाच्च पार्थिव । अपनेतुं तदा वेनं ततः क्रुद्धा महर्षयः
yadā na śakyate mohādavalepācca pārthiva | apanetuṃ tadā venaṃ tataḥ kruddhā maharṣayaḥ
Hỡi bậc quân vương, khi vì mê lầm và kiêu mạn mà Vena không thể bị ngăn lại, thì các đại hiền thánh liền bừng dậy phẫn nộ.
Unknown (narratorial voice within the Bhūmi-khaṇḍa dialogue context; specific speaker not identifiable from this single verse alone)
Concept: When a ruler becomes unrestrainable due to moha (delusion) and avalepa (arrogant pride), the protectors of dharma must intervene to prevent societal collapse.
Application: Treat arrogance as a warning sign; accept correction early. In leadership, create accountability structures and heed wise counsel before harm spreads.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tense royal court where Vena, crowned yet defiant, stands rigid with pride while a circle of austere mahārṣis glare with controlled fury. The air feels heavy as if dharma itself is weighing the king’s arrogance, foreshadowing decisive action.","primary_figures":["King Vena","Mahārṣis (assembly of sages)"],"setting":"ancient palace court with sacrificial paraphernalia neglected in the background; rishi staffs and deer-skins contrast with royal opulence","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky saffron","ash gray","deep maroon","antique gold","storm-cloud blue"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Vena in regal posture with ornate crown and heavy jewelry, sages in a semicircle with gold-leaf halos and raised hands of admonition, rich red and green drapery, gem-studded ornaments, palace pillars with stylized lotuses, dramatic moral tension rendered with gold leaf embellishment.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a refined court scene with delicate brushwork, sages in simple ochre robes confronting a proud king, cool muted palette with lyrical architectural details, expressive eyes and subtle gestures, distant garden and hills suggesting the kingdom’s fate.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines, Vena with exaggerated proud stance, sages with intense brows and hand-mudrās of warning, natural pigment reds/yellows/greens, palace interior simplified into iconic forms, strong narrative clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic dharma-court tableau framed by intricate floral borders and lotus motifs, sages as guardians of sacred order, deep blues and gold accents; include subtle Viṣṇu symbols (śaṅkha-cakra motifs) to hint at Viṣṇu-dharma being threatened."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple bells","distant conch shell","ominous silence between phrases"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मोहात्+अवलेपात्→मोहादवलेपात्; अवलेपात्+च→अवलेपाच्च
FAQs
Vena is portrayed as a ruler whose delusion (moha) and arrogance (avalepa) make him ungovernable; the verse highlights him as an example of how unchecked pride disrupts dharmic kingship.
It warns that delusion and arrogance can make a person resistant to correction; when counsel fails, social and spiritual guardians (the sages) may be compelled to respond strongly to protect dharma.
The verse reflects a dharmic model where kings are accountable to higher moral-spiritual standards, and sages function as custodians of dharma when political power becomes oppressive or unrighteous.