Shloka 125
The Glory of Dhātrī (Āmalakī) and Tulasī: Ekādaśī Observance and Protection from Preta States
नंदंति पुरुषास्तस्य माधवार्थे क्षितौ तु यः । तुलसीं रोपयेद्धीरः स याति माधवालयम्
naṃdaṃti puruṣāstasya mādhavārthe kṣitau tu yaḥ | tulasīṃ ropayeddhīraḥ sa yāti mādhavālayam
যে ধীর পুরুষ মাধবের উদ্দেশ্যে পৃথিবীতে তুলসী রোপণ করে, তার পুণ্যে লোকেরা আনন্দিত হয়; সেই জ্ঞানী ভক্ত মাধবের ধামে গমন করে।
Unspecified narrator/teacher voice (context not provided for exact dialogue attribution)
Concept: Sevā to what is dear to Viṣṇu (Tulasī) becomes a direct cause of attaining Mādhava’s abode.
Application: Plant and care for Tulasī with a clear devotional sankalpa; treat daily tending as worship rather than gardening.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble devotee kneels on freshly turned earth, planting a young Tulasī sapling with cupped hands, while a faint vision of Mādhava’s celestial abode shimmers above like a promise. Nearby villagers look on with reverent joy, sensing unseen merit radiating from the simple act.","primary_figures":["devotee (dhīra)","Tulasī plant (as sacred presence)","Mādhava (visionary, subtle)"],"setting":"village courtyard or temple garden plot with a small earthen altar, water pot, and conch; distant temple spire suggested","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","sapphire blue","fresh leaf green","earthy ochre","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a steadfast devotee planting a vibrant Tulasī sapling in sacred earth before a small Viṣṇu shrine, Mādhava appearing in a radiant aureole above; heavy gold leaf halos, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments on the deity, ornate arch (prabhāmaṇḍala), intricate floral borders with lotus motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical garden scene with a devotee planting Tulasī beside a small shrine, delicate brushwork and soft shading; cool greens and pale blues, refined faces, distant hills and a thin temple spire, a subtle cloud-vision of Mādhava’s abode hovering above.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; central Tulasī plant as sacred axis, devotee in añjali posture, Viṣṇu’s radiant form faintly manifested; temple-wall aesthetic with red/yellow/green dominance, stylized eyes, decorative creeper patterns around the frame.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Tulasī planting as a devotional festival tableau; deep indigo background with gold highlights, lotus and vine borders, peacocks near the garden, a small Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa shrine at center, intricate floral motifs emphasizing Tulasī leaves as sacred emblems."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","morning birds","soft conch shell","rustle of leaves","gentle silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुरुषास्तस्य = पुरुषाः + तस्य; माधवार्थे = माधव + अर्थे (यण्-सन्धि); रोपयेद्धीरः = रोपयेत् + धीरः (त् + ध् → द्ध्).
FAQs
Planting Tulasi in the earth as an act dedicated to Mādhava (Vishnu) is praised as a meritorious devotional practice.
It frames a simple, tangible act—planting Tulasi—as an offering “for Mādhava,” presenting devotion expressed through service (sevā) as a direct means to attain Vishnu’s abode.
Steadfast, purposeful action done for a sacred ideal benefits both the doer and the wider community, and sincere devotion is shown through practical care and cultivation rather than mere words.