Shloka 56
The Glory of Dhātrī (Āmalakī) and Tulasī: Ekādaśī Observance and Protection from Preta States
हीनप्रतिज्ञाश्चासत्यास्तथा भग्नव्रता नराः । नलिनीदलभुक्ताश्च ते प्रेताः कर्मजा भुवि
hīnapratijñāścāsatyāstathā bhagnavratā narāḥ | nalinīdalabhuktāśca te pretāḥ karmajā bhuvi
Menschen, die falsch sind, ihr gegebenes Wort nicht halten und ihre Gelübde brechen—sie, die sich von Lotosblättern nähren, werden auf Erden zu umherirrenden Pretas, hervorgebracht durch ihre eigenen Taten.
Unspecified (narratorial voice within Adhyaya 60 context)
Concept: Satya (truthfulness) and vrata-niṣṭhā (steadfastness in vows) protect one from degrading post-mortem states; breach of pledge ripens as preta-hood.
Application: Keep promises, avoid performative religiosity, and complete vowed disciplines (fasts, japa, charity) without deceit; if a vow must be altered, do so with confession, counsel, and compensatory dharma.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A parched, wind-swept riverbank under a dim sky where restless pretas wander, their forms thin and translucent. They clutch and chew lotus leaves in desperation, while a distant temple silhouette hints at the path they neglected—truth and vow-keeping.","primary_figures":["restless pretas","dharma-personified (optional, as a stern sage-like figure)"],"setting":"desolate lotus-pond edge with cracked earth, scattered lotus leaves, far-off shrine spire","lighting_mood":"moonlit","color_palette":["ashen gray","withered lotus green","smoky indigo","pale silver","mud brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a cautionary dharma tableau—ghostly pretas with elongated limbs at a lotus pond, chewing lotus leaves; far background shows a small Viṣṇu shrine with a glowing lamp; heavy gold leaf halo around the shrine only, rich maroon borders, ornate but somber detailing, traditional South Indian iconographic framing.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a lyrical yet eerie night scene by a lotus lake; delicate brushwork shows thin pretas among reeds, cool indigo sky, soft silver moon, distant temple on a hill; refined faces with sorrowful expressions, subtle mist over water, Himalayan-style landscape layering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and earthy pigments; pretas rendered in stylized forms near a lotus pond, expressive wide eyes, rhythmic reed patterns; a small sanctum lamp in the distance; dominant ochres, deep greens, and muted blues with temple-wall aesthetic.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: an unconventional moral pichwai—lotus motifs dominate, but leaves appear scattered and eaten; border of stylized lotuses and vines; in the far center a tiny Viṣṇu symbol (śaṅkha-cakra) radiates gold, contrasting the dark blue ground; intricate floral filigree and restrained palette to convey warning."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"dramatic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["dry wind","distant temple bell","low drone","night insects","silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हीनप्रतिज्ञाश्च = हीन-प्रतिज्ञाः च; चासत्याः = च असत्याः; नलिनीदलभुक्ताश्च = नलिनी-दल-भुक्ताः च
FAQs
It stresses satya (truthfulness) and fidelity to one’s pratijñā (promise) and vrata (vow), warning that violating them leads to painful karmic consequences.
It presents pretahood as a karmic state—“born of one’s own deeds”—specifically linked here to habitual untruth, broken promises, and violated vows.
It portrays a degraded, pitiable mode of existence on earth, emphasizing the hardship and scarcity associated with the preta condition described in the verse.