Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 64

The Glory of Dhātrī (Āmalakī) and Tulasī: Ekādaśī Observance and Protection from Preta States

जप्त्वा पद्माक्षमालायां प्रेतत्वं नैव गच्छति । धात्रीफलद्रवैः स्नात्वा नित्यं तद्भक्षणे रताः

japtvā padmākṣamālāyāṃ pretatvaṃ naiva gacchati | dhātrīphaladravaiḥ snātvā nityaṃ tadbhakṣaṇe ratāḥ

Wer Japa an einer Rosenkranzkette aus Lotussamen vollzieht, gelangt keineswegs in den Zustand eines preta. Wer sich mit dem Saft der Āmalakī-Frucht badet und sich beständig ihrem Verzehr hingibt, erlangt segensreiche Früchte.

जप्त्वाhaving recited (muttered)
जप्त्वा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; adverbial modifier)
TypeVerb
Rootजप् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: जप्, अर्थ: ‘having muttered/recited’
पद्माक्षमालायाम्on/with a padmākṣa rosary
पद्माक्षमालायाम्:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locus)
TypeNoun
Rootपद्माक्ष-माला (प्रातिपदिक) = पद्माक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + माला (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्माक्षाणां माला)
प्रेतत्वम्state of being a preta (ghosthood)
प्रेतत्वम्:
Karma (कर्म; object/goal not attained)
TypeNoun
Rootप्रेतत्व (प्रातिपदिक) = प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन
not
:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध; negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)
एवindeed / at all
एव:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (emphatic particle)
गच्छतिgoes / attains
गच्छति:
Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formलट् लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद
धात्रीफलद्रवैःwith liquids/juice of āmalaka (dhātrī) fruit
धात्रीफलद्रवैः:
Karana (करण; instrument/means)
TypeNoun
Rootधात्रीफल-द्रव (प्रातिपदिक) = धात्रीफल (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धात्रीफलस्य द्रवः)
स्नात्वाhaving bathed
स्नात्वा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; adverbial modifier)
TypeVerb
Rootस्ना (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), धातु: स्ना, अर्थ: ‘having bathed’
नित्यम्always
नित्यम्:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनित्य (प्रातिपदिक) (अव्ययीभाववत् क्रियाविशेषणप्रयोगः)
Formअव्यय (adverb) ‘always/regularly’
तत्of that (fruit/juice)
तत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘of that’ (in compound relation with भक्षणे)
भक्षणेin eating/consuming
भक्षणे:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण; locus)
TypeNoun
Rootभक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘in eating/consumption’
रताःdevoted/engaged
रताः:
Karta (कर्ता; subject—implied persons)
TypeAdjective
Rootरत (प्रातिपदिक) < रम् (धातु) क्त (PPP/adj.)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘engaged/devoted’

Unspecified in the provided excerpt (context needed from surrounding verses).

Concept: Japa on a padmākṣa-mālā and āmalakī-based bathing/consumption function as purificatory sādhana, preventing preta-bhāva and cultivating auspiciousness.

Application: Adopt a sustainable daily regimen: short japa on a mālā, periodic herbal bath/cleansing, and mindful diet—offered to Hari as seva rather than vanity.

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"At dawn, a devotee sits beside a copper vessel filled with pale green āmalakī infusion, stringing a lotus-seed rosary through his fingers as he chants. He pours the fragrant liquid over his head in a ritual bath; the water glows softly, and the air feels cleansed and bright.","primary_figures":["devotee practitioner","Padmākṣa-mālā (lotus-seed rosary)","ritual vessels (copper/brass)"],"setting":"Courtyard bathing area near a small shrine; tulasi pot and lamp nearby as contextual devotional elements","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["pale amla green","copper bronze","sunrise saffron","clean white","deep teal"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: devotee performing japa with a padmākṣa-mālā, copper pot of āmalakī drava, ritual bathing scene with gold leaf highlights on water droplets, ornate shrine corner with Vishnu symbols, rich reds/greens, jewel-like detailing on vessels and ornaments, devotional purity emphasized.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: dawn courtyard with delicate brushwork, devotee seated near a small bathing platform, translucent pale-green āmalakī water, soft sunrise sky, refined calm expression, gentle naturalism with plants and a small shrine in the background.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: stylized devotee with bold outlines, rhythmic depiction of rosary beads, āmalakī bath as patterned flowing bands, red/yellow/green palette with teal accents, temple-wall iconographic simplicity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central figure with rosary, decorative circular bead motifs echoing lotus seeds, āmalakī fruits arranged like floral mandala, deep blue background with gold highlights, lotus borders and peacocks, devotional domestic ritual aesthetic."}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"meditative","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"slow-meditative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft japa murmur","water pouring","morning birds","conch shell (distant)"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: नैव = न + एव; तद्भक्षणे = तत् + भक्षणे

P
Padmākṣa (lotus-seed rosary)
D
Dhātrī/Āmalakī (Indian gooseberry)
P
Preta (restless spirit)

FAQs

It recommends japa (mantra-recitation) using a padmākṣa (lotus-seed) rosary, along with bathing in āmalakī (dhātrī) fruit liquid and regularly consuming āmalakī.

Pretatva refers to the condition of becoming a preta—an unsettled post-death state often described in Purāṇic literature as restless or afflicted.

The verse emphasizes disciplined devotional practice (japa) and purity/wholesome conduct (ritual bathing and sattvic nourishment) as safeguards that lead toward auspicious spiritual outcomes.