krtva papa sahasrani purve vayasi manavah
tulasi bhaksanan mucyet srutam etat pura hareh
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 9/218 from Skanda Purana, conversation between Vasistha and King Mandhata)
If any person in his young age commits thousands of sins but later on eats a Tulasi leaf, he becomes free from all sins. This narration was heard previously near Lord Sri Hari.
kim citram asyah patitam tulasya
dalam jalam va patitam punite
lagnadi bhala sthalam alavala
mrtsnapi krtsna agha vinasanaya
srimat tulasyah patrasya mahatmyam yadyapi drsam
tathapi vaisnavas tan na grahyam krsnarpanam vina
(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 9/226,227)
What can I say about the wonderful glories of Tulasi? Her fallen leaves, Her rotten leaves and Her water, even if fallen (mixed with Her mud?) is purifying. If even a minute quantity of the mud which has emanated from the Tulasi root has been placed on one's head, all of one's sins are removed. Although Tulasi is so glorious (and Her leaves are so purifying), still Vaisnavas never eat Tulasi leaves without first offering them to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
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