Shloka 1
The Glory of Dhātrī (Āmalakī) and Tulasī: Ekādaśī Observance and Protection from Preta States
स्कंदौवाच । अपरस्यापि पृच्छामि फलस्य पूततां तरोः । सर्वलोकहितार्थाय वद नो जगदीश्वर
skaṃdauvāca | aparasyāpi pṛcchāmi phalasya pūtatāṃ taroḥ | sarvalokahitārthāya vada no jagadīśvara
Skanda sprach: Ich frage auch nach einem anderen Anliegen – nach der heiligenden Reinheit der Frucht eines Baumes. Zum Wohle aller Welten sage es uns, o Herr des Universums.
Skanda (Kārttikeya)
Concept: Ask about purity not for private gain but for the welfare of all beings; sacred knowledge is a public good.
Application: Seek guidance on daily practices (food, planting, offerings) with an intention to benefit family/community, not merely oneself.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Skanda, radiant and youthful, stands with folded hands before Mahādeva in a serene sacred grove, asking about the purifying power hidden in a tree’s fruit. The air feels charged with quiet wonder, as if the cosmos pauses to listen to a question asked for the good of all worlds.","primary_figures":["Skanda (Kārttikeya/Mahāsena)","Īśvara (Śiva/Mahādeva)"],"setting":"Forest-ashram clearing with a small shrine, sacred trees, and a low stone seat for the teacher; distant Himalaya silhouette implied.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["ash white","rudraksha brown","peacock blue","leaf green","soft gold"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Skanda with peacock-feather hues and jeweled crown stands in añjali-mudrā before seated Mahādeva with crescent moon and trident; ornate arch (prabhāvali), gold leaf halos, rich vermilion and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments, sacred grove backdrop with stylized leaves and a prominent fruit-bearing tree.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: intimate guru-śiṣya dialogue in a quiet forest hermitage; delicate linework, cool greens and blues, refined faces; Skanda respectfully leaning forward, Śiva calm and teaching; distant pale mountains, small flowering plants, and a fruiting tree emphasized with lyrical naturalism.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and flat natural pigments; Śiva seated with serene eyes and minimalistic tiger-skin motif, Skanda in bright peacock-blue garments; stylized sacred tree with large leaves; temple-wall aesthetic with red, yellow, and green dominance and controlled symmetry.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: devotional dialogue framed by lotus and floral borders; central fruit-bearing tree rendered as sacred motif; deep indigo background with gold highlights; peacocks and small birds around the grove; ornate textile patterns and rhythmic repetition of leaves and lotuses."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["forest birds","gentle wind in leaves","soft temple bell","distant conch shell"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्कंदौवाच = स्कन्दः + उवाच; अपरस्यापि = अपरस्य + अपि; सर्वलोकहितार्थाय = सर्व-लोक-हित-अर्थाय; जगदीश्वर = जगत्-ईश्वर (त् + ई → दी)।
FAQs
He asks about the sanctifying purity (pūtatā) associated with a tree’s fruit—i.e., what makes it spiritually purifying or meritorious.
It explicitly states the teaching is sought “for the welfare of all worlds” (sarvalokahitārthāya), presenting the discussion as universally beneficial rather than merely personal.
The verse implies a dharmic orientation: knowledge should be requested and shared for collective well-being, and even everyday natural items (like fruits) can have a role in purity and righteous living.