Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 7
The Aśūnyaśayana Vow: Expiation, Viṣṇu’s Theophany, and Liberation for Divyā Devī
तं गिरिं सर्वतोभद्रं नानाधातुसमाकुलम् । नानारत्नमयैस्तुंगैः शिखरैरुपशोभितम्
taṃ giriṃ sarvatobhadraṃ nānādhātusamākulam | nānāratnamayaistuṃgaiḥ śikharairupaśobhitam
Ngọn núi ấy cát tường bốn phía, chất chứa muôn loại khoáng thạch, và được tô điểm bởi những đỉnh cao vút làm bằng các thứ bảo châu khác nhau.
Unspecified (narrative description within the Adhyāya; commonly framed as Pulastya speaking to Bhīṣma in Bhūmi-khaṇḍa contexts)
Concept: Sacred geography mirrors inner spiritual strata: as the mountain holds many minerals and gems, the disciplined seeker uncovers virtues through layered practice.
Application: Cultivate ‘seeing as sacred’: treat natural grandeur as a prompt for humility, gratitude, and restraint rather than possession.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: mountain
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A vast auspicious mountain rises like a natural palace, its slopes streaked with many ores—copper, silver, and dark iron—while towering peaks glitter as if carved from sapphire, emerald, and crystal. Mist curls around the gem-summits, and the entire massif feels ‘fortunate on every side,’ as though guarded by unseen devas.","primary_figures":["Ujjvala (small pilgrim figure for scale)","Yakṣa-like guardians (optional, subtle)"],"setting":"Mythic mountain landscape with mineral-veined cliffs, gem peaks, and high-altitude clouds; distant cosmic ocean hinted at the horizon.","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["sapphire blue","emerald green","crystal white","copper bronze","amethyst violet"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: monumental jeweled mountain with embossed gold leaf highlighting mineral veins and gem peaks; tiny Ujjvala at the base in saffron garments; ornate border with lotus and makara motifs; rich reds/greens in the frame, jewel-studded effect on the śikharas, symmetrical sacred composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical Himalayan-like mountain rendered with delicate brushwork; mineral striations in subtle washes, gem peaks sparkling with restrained highlights; cool sky gradients, drifting mist, a small pilgrim figure on a winding trail; refined naturalism and poetic scale.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized mountain with patterned mineral bands and jewel-toned peaks; bold outlines, flat yet vibrant color fields; decorative cloud scrolls; temple-wall aesthetic with auspicious motifs along the margins.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: mountain as a sacred backdrop filled with lotus and floral arabesques; gem peaks stylized as patterned triangles with gold accents; peacocks perched on ledges; deep blue ground with intricate borders, devotional textile richness."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["mountain wind","distant waterfall (faint)","echoing birds","tanpura drone","soft bell shimmer"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शिखरैरुपशोभितम् = शिखरैः + उपशोभितम् (ः + उ → र् उ).
FAQs
By calling it sarvatobhadra (“auspicious/beautiful on all sides”), the verse portrays the mountain as uniformly благоприятный—fit for pilgrimage narratives and sacred geography.
The imagery of many dhātus (ores/minerals) and ratnas (gems) signals both natural abundance and a sacralized landscape—typical Purāṇic language for extraordinary, divine or tīrtha-associated regions.
Not explicitly; it functions primarily as a descriptive setup. However, Purāṇic sacred geography often supports dharma by directing attention toward revered places and their divine qualities.