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
యస్య గృహిణీ దుర్దాంతా, శుచిత్వ-సంయమములేని దుష్టురాలై గురువులను/వృద్ధులను వెలివేస్తుందో, ఆ గృహమందు నిశ్చయంగా ప్రేతులు నివసించుదురు.
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.