Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 31
The Episode of Śivaśarmā: Testing Somaśarmā through Service and Truth
न कृतं शोभनं मह्यं त्वयैव कुलपांसन । एवं नानाविधैर्वाक्यैर्निष्ठुरैर्दुःखदायकैः
na kṛtaṃ śobhanaṃ mahyaṃ tvayaiva kulapāṃsana | evaṃ nānāvidhairvākyairniṣṭhurairduḥkhadāyakaiḥ
Hỡi kẻ làm nhơ danh dòng tộc! Ngươi chẳng làm điều lành nào cho ta. Thế mà ngươi còn buông bao lời cay nghiệt, thô bạo, gây đau khổ.
Unspecified (context-dependent dialogue within Bhūmi-khaṇḍa)
Concept: Cruel speech (nिष्ठुर-वाक्य) is itself a form of harm; adharma begins in the tongue and fractures family duty.
Application: Before correcting others, avoid contemptuous labels; speak truth with gentleness, especially within family relationships where words leave long karmic traces.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a modest Brahmin household, an elder figure points accusingly while uttering cutting words; the accused stands with lowered gaze, absorbing the insult without retaliation. The air feels heavy, as if the very walls remember the sting of speech, foreshadowing a turn toward repentance and dharma.","primary_figures":["angry householder (speaker)","insulted righteous person (listener/son or dependent)"],"setting":"interior of a traditional home courtyard with wooden pillars, oil lamp, and simple ritual items in the background","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit","color_palette":["smoky umber","deep maroon","lamp-gold","ash gray","indigo shadow"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a tense domestic scene in a South Indian courtyard—an elder in rich maroon garments scolding with raised hand, the righteous youth standing calm with folded hands; gold leaf highlights on lamp flame, jewelry, and pillar carvings; saturated reds/greens, ornate borders, traditional iconographic symmetry despite human drama.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate household quarrel rendered with delicate lines—an elder speaking harshly, the younger figure composed and downcast; cool interior tones, patterned textiles, small oil lamp glow; lyrical realism, fine facial expressions, minimal architecture with a hint of garden beyond.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and expressive eyes—an agitated elder with dynamic gesture, the calm figure in restrained posture; natural pigments with red/yellow/green dominance, lamp-lit interior, stylized pillars and floor patterns, moral tension conveyed through posture and gaze.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: moral tableau framed by floral borders—domestic courtyard with lotus motifs subtly contrasting harsh speech; deep blue background panels, gold detailing on lamp and borders; figures stylized, emphasizing the ethical lesson rather than realism, intricate vine patterns enclosing the scene."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["low temple bell","hushed indoor ambience","single sharp staff tap (foreshadowing)","brief silence after harsh words"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्वयैव = त्वया एव; नानाविधैर्वाक्यैः = नानाविधैः वाक्यैः; निष्ठुरैर्दुःखदायकैः = निष्ठुरैः दुःखदायकैः
FAQs
It condemns cruelty in speech and frames harsh, pain-causing words as a serious personal and familial failing.
It is a strong insult meaning “disgrace of the family,” suggesting someone whose conduct brings shame upon their lineage.
In isolation it reads primarily as a general moral principle about right conduct (dharma), especially the harm caused by abusive speech; sectarian doctrine is not explicit in this line alone.