Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 124
The Greatness of Puṣkara: Tripuṣkara Pilgrimage, Sacred Geography, and the Doctrine of Self-Restraint
एवमादीनि कर्माणि येषां संख्या न विद्यते । अस्माकं भयभीतानां त्वं गतिर्मधुसूदन
evamādīni karmāṇi yeṣāṃ saṃkhyā na vidyate | asmākaṃ bhayabhītānāṃ tvaṃ gatirmadhusūdana
Những việc như thế—không sao kể xiết—chúng con đã gây nên. Với chúng con đang run rẩy vì sợ hãi, chỉ Ngài là nơi nương tựa, ôi Madhusūdana.
Unspecified devotees/supplicants addressing Viṣṇu (Madhusūdana)
Concept: Śaraṇāgati: acknowledging one’s countless faults and taking exclusive refuge in Madhusūdana as the sole gati (destination/protector).
Application: When anxious or guilty, practice honest self-review without despair; turn to prayer, mantra, and corrective action, trusting grace while reforming conduct.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A group of trembling devotees kneel with folded hands before Madhusūdana, their faces wet with tears of fear and relief. Viṣṇu stands serene, lotus-eyed, holding conch and discus, extending a blessing hand as a soft aura dissolves the darkness around them—like dawn entering a closed room.","primary_figures":["Viṣṇu (Madhusūdana)","Fearful devotees/supplicants"],"setting":"Temple interior or liminal sacred space with lamp flames, lotus motifs, and a calm sanctum backdrop","lighting_mood":"temple lamp-lit turning into gentle divine radiance","color_palette":["deep indigo","lamp gold","lotus pink","turquoise","sandalwood beige"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Viṣṇu as Madhusūdana in traditional South Indian iconography, gold-leaf halo and embossed ornaments; devotees at the base in añjali with tearful faces; rich reds and greens, gem-studded crown, ornate prākāra arch, lotus borders and shining lamps.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate devotional scene with delicate facial expressions; Viṣṇu luminous yet gentle, soft gradients of light; devotees in simple garments, hands folded; cool indigo background with warm lamp highlights, refined brushwork and lyrical calm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Viṣṇu with bold outlines and large eyes, blessing gesture prominent; devotees arranged symmetrically; flat natural pigments with red/yellow/green dominance, lamp motifs and lotus patterns framing the sanctum.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central standing Viṣṇu framed by intricate floral borders and lotus garlands; devotees below; deep blue ground with gold ornamentation; stylized lotuses and peacocks as decorative fillers, devotional symmetry."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["soft temple bells","tanpura drone","conch shell (distant)","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: एवमादीनि = एवम् + आदीनि; गतिर्मधुसूदन = गतिः + मधुसूदन (ः + म् संधि)
FAQs
No. This verse is a devotional appeal focused on moral burden and seeking refuge in Viṣṇu (Madhusūdana), not on places or pilgrimage geography.
It expresses śaraṇāgati (surrender): acknowledging countless deeds and turning to Viṣṇu alone as gati (refuge/goal), a hallmark of devotional dependence on divine grace.
It teaches accountability and humility: recognizing the weight of one’s actions and responding not with denial, but with sincere repentance and seeking divine guidance and protection.