Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 19
The Kingdom of God (Vaikuṇṭha) and the Curse of Jaya and Vijaya
मन्दारकुन्दकुरबोत्पलचम्पकार्ण- पुन्नागनागबकुलाम्बुजपारिजाता: । गन्धेऽर्चिते तुलसिकाभरणेन तस्या यस्मिंस्तप: सुमनसो बहु मानयन्ति ॥ १९ ॥
mandāra-kunda-kurabotpala-campakārṇa- punnāga-nāga-bakulāmbuja-pārijātāḥ gandhe ’rcite tulasikābharaṇena tasyā yasmiṁs tapaḥ sumanaso bahu mānayanti
മന്ദാര, കുന്ദ, കുരബക, ഉത്പല, ചമ്പക, അർണ, പുന്നാഗ, നാഗകേശര, ബകുല, താമര, പാരിജാതം തുടങ്ങിയ പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ ദിവ്യസുഗന്ധം നിറഞ്ഞവയായിട്ടും, തുളസിയുടെ തപസ്സിന്റെ മഹിമ അവർക്കറിയാം. കാരണം ഭഗവാൻ സ്വയം തുളസിദളങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കുന്നു; അതിനാൽ എല്ലാ പുഷ്പങ്ങളും തുളസിയെ ഏറെ മാനിക്കുന്നു.
The importance of tulasī leaves is very clearly mentioned here. Tulasī plants and their leaves are very important in devotional service. Devotees are recommended to water the tulasī tree every day and collect the leaves to worship the Lord. One time an atheistic svāmī remarked, “What is the use of watering the tulasī plant? It is better to water eggplant. By watering the eggplant one can get some fruits, but what is the use of watering the tulasī ?” These foolish creatures, unacquainted with devotional service, sometimes play havoc with the education of people in general.
FAQs
This verse highlights that even the fragrance of divine flowers becomes truly worshipful when adorned with tulasī, showing tulasī’s supreme role in sanctifying offerings in devotion to the Lord.
He is portraying the spiritual atmosphere of the Lord’s abode—where everything is centered on bhakti—so Parīkṣit can understand the purity and devotion that characterize Vaikuṇṭha.
Offer whatever is available—flowers, incense, or simple items—with sincere devotion, and include tulasī (when possible) as a sacred emblem of loving service to the Lord.