Shloka 1

The Glory of Tulasī and Dhātrī (Āmalakī): Protection from Yama and Attainment of Vaikuṇṭha

Devanagari script

शौनकौवाच । माहात्म्यं ब्रूहि सर्वज्ञ शृण्वतां पापनाशनम् । सर्वप्राणिहितार्थाय तुलस्या अनुकंपया

Transliteration

śaunakauvāca | māhātmyaṃ brūhi sarvajña śṛṇvatāṃ pāpanāśanam | sarvaprāṇihitārthāya tulasyā anukaṃpayā

Translation

قال شوناكا: يا أيها العليم بكل شيء، حدِّثنا عن مجد التولسي، فهو يمحو خطايا السامعين، رحمةً ولأجل خير جميع الكائنات الحية.

Word by Word

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता) (of उवाच)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उवाच (लिट्-रूप)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• माहात्म्यम्: the greatness/glory
• माहात्म्यम्: Karma (कर्म) (object of ब्रूहि)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ब्रूहि: tell/speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• सर्वज्ञ: O omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक); components: सर्व (all) + ज्ञ (knowing)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहि: सर्वं जानाति इति

• शृण्वताम्: of the listeners
• शृण्वताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → शृण्वत् (शतृ-प्रत्यय, present participle) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘of those who are listening’

• पापनाशनम्: sin-destroying
• पापनाशनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of माहात्म्यम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पाप-नाशन (प्रातिपदिक); components: पाप (sin) + नाशन (destroying)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies माहात्म्यम्: ‘sin-destroying’

• सर्वप्राणिहितार्थाय: for the welfare-purpose of all beings
• सर्वप्राणिहितार्थाय: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान) (purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-प्राणि-हित-अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक); components: सर्व (all) + प्राणि (living beings) + हित (welfare) + अर्थ (purpose)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन); purpose: ‘for the purpose of the welfare of all beings’

• तुलस्याः: of Tulasī
• तुलस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुलसी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• अनुकम्पया: through compassion
• अनुकम्पया: Karaṇa (करण) / Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुकम्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); cause/means

Speaker

Śaunaka

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: शौनकौवाच = शौनकः + उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Tulasī

FAQs

What is being requested in this verse?

Śaunaka requests the narration of Tulasī’s māhātmya (sacred greatness), emphasizing that hearing it destroys sins.

How does this verse emphasize Bhakti practice?

It highlights śravaṇa (devotional hearing) as spiritually transformative—listening to sacred narration is presented as pāpa-nāśana (sin-destroying).

What ethical or universal message is conveyed?

The verse frames religious teaching as compassion-driven and universally beneficial—meant for the welfare of all living beings (sarvaprāṇihita).