Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 66
Mārkaṇḍeya-varṇanam
The Description of Mārkaṇḍeya
तुलसीगन्धमाघ्राय सन्तोषं कुर्वते तु ये । तन्मूलमृतिकां ये च ते वै भागवतोत्तमाः ॥ ६६ ॥
tulasīgandhamāghrāya santoṣaṃ kurvate tu ye | tanmūlamṛtikāṃ ye ca te vai bhāgavatottamāḥ || 66 ||
जे तुलशीचा सुगंध घेताच संतोष मानतात, आणि जे तिच्या मुळाजवळची पवित्र मातीही पूज्य मानतात—तेच निश्चय भागवतोत्तम।
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It presents Tulasi as a direct marker of Vaishnava devotion: even simple reverence—like taking joy in her fragrance and honoring the soil at her roots—indicates a devotee whose heart is naturally inclined to Bhagavān.
Bhakti is shown as heartfelt and accessible: not only elaborate rites, but sincere delight in Bhagavān’s sacred associates (like Tulasi) and respect for their sanctity is praised as the sign of an “uttama-bhāgavata.”
No specific Vedanga (Śikṣā, Vyākaraṇa, Jyotiṣa, etc.) is taught here; the practical takeaway is ritual conduct (ācāra) in Vaishnava pūjā—honoring Tulasi and her mūla-mṛttikā as devotional sanctity.