Padma Purana — Srishti Khanda, Shloka 125
The Glory of Dhātrī (Āmalakī) and Tulasī: Ekādaśī Observance and Protection from Preta States
नंदंति पुरुषास्तस्य माधवार्थे क्षितौ तु यः । तुलसीं रोपयेद्धीरः स याति माधवालयम्
naṃdaṃti puruṣāstasya mādhavārthe kṣitau tu yaḥ | tulasīṃ ropayeddhīraḥ sa yāti mādhavālayam
جو ثابت قدم شخص مَادھو کی خاطر زمین میں تلسی لگاتا ہے، لوگ اس کے پُنّیہ پر خوش ہوتے ہیں؛ وہ دانا بھکت مَادھو کے دھام کو جاتا ہے۔
Unspecified narrator/teacher voice (context not provided for exact dialogue attribution)
Concept: Sevā to what is dear to Viṣṇu (Tulasī) becomes a direct cause of attaining Mādhava’s abode.
Application: Plant and care for Tulasī with a clear devotional sankalpa; treat daily tending as worship rather than gardening.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A humble devotee kneels on freshly turned earth, planting a young Tulasī sapling with cupped hands, while a faint vision of Mādhava’s celestial abode shimmers above like a promise. Nearby villagers look on with reverent joy, sensing unseen merit radiating from the simple act.","primary_figures":["devotee (dhīra)","Tulasī plant (as sacred presence)","Mādhava (visionary, subtle)"],"setting":"village courtyard or temple garden plot with a small earthen altar, water pot, and conch; distant temple spire suggested","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["lotus pink","sapphire blue","fresh leaf green","earthy ochre","gold leaf"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a steadfast devotee planting a vibrant Tulasī sapling in sacred earth before a small Viṣṇu shrine, Mādhava appearing in a radiant aureole above; heavy gold leaf halos, rich crimson and emerald textiles, gem-studded ornaments on the deity, ornate arch (prabhāmaṇḍala), intricate floral borders with lotus motifs.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical garden scene with a devotee planting Tulasī beside a small shrine, delicate brushwork and soft shading; cool greens and pale blues, refined faces, distant hills and a thin temple spire, a subtle cloud-vision of Mādhava’s abode hovering above.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold black outlines and natural pigments; central Tulasī plant as sacred axis, devotee in añjali posture, Viṣṇu’s radiant form faintly manifested; temple-wall aesthetic with red/yellow/green dominance, stylized eyes, decorative creeper patterns around the frame.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: Tulasī planting as a devotional festival tableau; deep indigo background with gold highlights, lotus and vine borders, peacocks near the garden, a small Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa shrine at center, intricate floral motifs emphasizing Tulasī leaves as sacred emblems."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","morning birds","soft conch shell","rustle of leaves","gentle silence between lines"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पुरुषास्तस्य = पुरुषाः + तस्य; माधवार्थे = माधव + अर्थे (यण्-सन्धि); रोपयेद्धीरः = रोपयेत् + धीरः (त् + ध् → द्ध्).
FAQs
Planting Tulasi in the earth as an act dedicated to Mādhava (Vishnu) is praised as a meritorious devotional practice.
It frames a simple, tangible act—planting Tulasi—as an offering “for Mādhava,” presenting devotion expressed through service (sevā) as a direct means to attain Vishnu’s abode.
Steadfast, purposeful action done for a sacred ideal benefits both the doer and the wider community, and sincere devotion is shown through practical care and cultivation rather than mere words.