Shloka 77
The Glory of Dhātrī (Āmalakī) and Tulasī: Ekādaśī Observance and Protection from Preta States
दुर्दांता गृहिणी यस्य शुचिसंयमवर्जिता । गुरुनिःसारिता दुष्टा संति प्रेताश्च तत्र वै
durdāṃtā gṛhiṇī yasya śucisaṃyamavarjitā | guruniḥsāritā duṣṭā saṃti pretāśca tatra vai
Im Haus dessen, dessen Frau zügellos, ohne Reinheit und Selbstbeherrschung ist, böse und die Älteren vertrieben hat, dort wohnen wahrlich die Pretas.
Not explicitly identifiable from the single verse (context needed from Adhyaya 60 framing dialogue).
Concept: A household that rejects purity, restraint, and reverence for elders becomes spiritually porous—negative forces ‘dwell’ where dharma is expelled.
Application: Cultivate śauca and self-restraint at home; protect family culture by honoring elders/teachers, maintaining a small daily worship routine, and resolving conflict before it hardens into contempt.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A courtyard home scene fractured by discord: an elder with a staff stands at the threshold, turned away, while inside a chaotic household neglects cleanliness and restraint. In the rafters and corners, faint preta-shadows gather like smoke, drawn to the moral vacancy, while a neglected altar sits dusty and unlit.","primary_figures":["unrestrained housewife","expelled elder/guru","preta-spirits"],"setting":"traditional courtyard house with threshold (dvāra), dusty shrine niche, scattered utensils, unkempt floor","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["dusty beige","charcoal gray","faded vermilion","dull teal","ashen white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: domestic caution scene—elder at the doorway, household in disorder, pretas as stylized shadow forms in corners; gold leaf reserved for the elder’s halo-like dignity and the faint outline of a neglected Vishnu icon; rich reds/greens subdued, ornate border with broken lotus motifs symbolizing lost śrī.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: refined courtyard composition—soft daylight, delicate architecture lines; elder’s sorrowful profile, subtle preta wisps near beams; cool palette with restrained accents, lyrical realism emphasizing moral drama without grotesquery.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines—central doorway with elder figure, interior chaos, pretas as pale silhouettes; strong pigments, expressive eyes, temple-wall narrative framing with moral clarity.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: symbolic household mandala—threshold as central axis, elder outside, interior filled with dark floral curls; a small upper register shows a bright Tulasi plant and Vishnu emblem as the remedy motif; intricate borders, deep blues and gold accents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["door creak","distant temple bell","crows in courtyard","wind through eaves","brief silence on 'pretāḥ'"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शुचिसंयमवर्जिता = शुचि + संयम + वर्जिता (compound); गुरुनिःसारिता = गुरुणा निःसारिता (tṛtīyā-tatpuruṣa); प्रेताश्च = प्रेताः + च.
FAQs
It warns that a household lacking purity (śuci), self-restraint (saṃyama), and respect for elders/teachers (guru) becomes spiritually inauspicious—symbolically described as a place where pretas (restless spirits) dwell.
Traditional readings may take it literally or as a moral-spiritual metaphor: disorder, disrespect, and impurity attract misfortune and inner unrest, described in Purāṇic language as ‘preta’ presence.
Maintain cleanliness and disciplined conduct, and do not mistreat or expel elders/teachers; the well-being and sanctity of the home is tied to dharmic behavior and reverence.