Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 17
Yayāti Ensnared by Desire: Gandharva Marriage, Aśvamedha, and the Demand to See the Worlds
कंदर्पस्य प्रपंचेन इंद्रस्यार्थे महामते । सुकर्मोवाच । एवं पिप्पल राजासौ ययातिः पृथिवीपतिः
kaṃdarpasya prapaṃcena iṃdrasyārthe mahāmate | sukarmovāca | evaṃ pippala rājāsau yayātiḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ
Hỡi bậc đại trí, do mưu kế của Kandarpa (Thần Ái Dục) vì mục đích của Indra—Sukarmā nói—nên như vậy, vua Pippala, Yayāti, chúa tể cõi đất, được thuật lại.
Sukarmā
Concept: Worldly power—earthly or celestial—may employ desire as a tool; discernment is needed to avoid becoming an instrument of others’ agendas.
Application: Before acting on strong attraction or impulse, ask: ‘Who benefits from this?’ and re-center with prayer, restraint, and ethical counsel.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: celestial_realm
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A split-scene of celestial strategy: Indra in his jeweled court gestures anxiously while Kāma (Kandarpā) strings a flower-bow, releasing an unseen ‘prapañca’ toward the earthly king. Below, Yayāti (also called Pippala here) is shown as the target of the enchantment, a faint floral arrow-line connecting realms.","primary_figures":["Sukarmā (narrator-sage)","Indra","Kāma/Kandarpā (Manmatha)","Yayāti (Pippala)"],"setting":"Upper register: Indra’s svarga sabhā with apsaras and kalpavriksha; lower register: earthly palace/garden where the king is ensnared.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["celestial gold","electric blue","jasmine white","ruby red","leaf green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: two-tier composition—Indra’s court above with gold leaf architecture and gem-like detailing, Kāma with floral bow poised; below, Yayāti in a pleasure-garden; a stylized floral ‘arrow’ motif links the tiers; rich reds/greens, embossed gold borders, traditional iconography for Indra (vajra) and Kāma (sugarcane bow/flower arrows).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: elegant svarga pavilion with delicate figures, soft clouds and kalpavriksha, Kāma as youthful archer; below, a refined earthly garden scene; subtle narrative connector (a garland-like line) indicating the contrivance; cool palette with bright accents.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold, iconic Indra with vajra, Kāma with flower arrows, Sukarmā as sage at the side speaking; lower panel shows Yayāti; strong outlines and flat pigments, ornamental creeper borders emphasizing ‘prapañca’.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: ornate floral borders and lotus medallions; depict Kāma’s flower-arrow motif prominently, Indra’s court stylized with gold stars on deep blue; lower vignette of the king in a garden; peacocks and creepers amplify the theme of desire as a net."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["celestial drums (dundubhi)","soft laughter of apsaras (subtle)","wind through trees","single conch accent"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इन्द्रस्यार्थे = इन्द्रस्य + अर्थे (यण्-सन्धि: अ + अ → आ). सुकर्मोवाच = सुकर्मा + उवाच (आ + उ → ओ). राजासौ = राजा + असौ (आ + अ → आ; संधि-लोप/दीर्घ).
FAQs
The verse explicitly marks the speaker with “सुकर्मोवाच (sukarmovāca)”, meaning “Sukarmā said.”
It indicates a stratagem or contrivance associated with Kāma (Kandarpā), suggesting that events are being driven by desire’s agency or a love-induced plot rather than straightforward action.
The verse frames a narrative where Indra’s purpose is advanced through Kāma’s contrivance, and it transitions into the account involving King Pippala and Yayāti, indicating a connected storyline or exemplum within the chapter.