334
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[Canto 4, Ch. 8]
Śrīmatī Govinda dāsī because she has taken much care to grow  tulasī  plants from seeds, and she has been successful by the grace of Kṛṣṇa. Now  tulasī  plants are growing in almost every center of our movement.
Tulasī  leaves are very important in the method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In this verse the word  salilaiḥ  means “by the water.” Of course, Dhruva Mahārāja was worshiping on the bank of the Yamunā. The Yamunā and the Ganges are sacred, and sometimes devotees in India insist that the Deity must be worshiped with water of the Ganges or Yamunā. But here we understand  deśa-kāla  to mean “according to time and country.” In the Western countries there is no River Yamunā or Ganges—water from such sacred rivers is not available. Does this mean that the  arcā  worship should be stopped for that reason? No.  Salilaiḥ  refers to any water—whatever is available—but it must be very clear and collected purely. That water can be used. The other paraphernalia, such as flower garlands, fruits and vegetables, should be collected according to the country and according to their availability.  Tulasī  leaves are very important for satisfying the Lord, so as far as possible, an arrangement should be made for growing  tulasī  leaves. Dhruva Mahārāja was advised to worship the Lord with the fruits and flowers available in the forest. In the  Bhagavad-gītā  Kṛṣṇa frankly says that He accepts vegetables, fruits, flowers, etc. One should not offer Lord Vāsudeva anything other than what is prescribed herein by the great authority Nārada Muni. One cannot offer to the Deity according to one’s whims, but since these fruits and vegetables are available anywhere in the universe, we should observe this small point very attentively.
TEXT 56
लब्धाद्रव्यमयीमनो क्षित्यब्धवादिषु वाचयेत् । आभृतात्मा मुनिः शान्तो यतवाङ्मितवन्यभुक् ५६
labdhvā dravyamayīm arcām kṣity-ambv-ādiṣu vārcayet ābhṛtātmā muniḥ śānto yatavāṅ mita-vanya-bhuk
labdhvā —by getting;  dravyamayīm —made of physical elements;  arcām —worshipable Deity;  kṣiti —earth;  ambu —water;  ādiṣu —beginning with;  vā —or;  arcayet —worship;  ābhṛta-ātmā —one who is fully self-controlled;  muniḥ —great personality;  śāntaḥ —peacefully;  yatavāk —controlling the force of talking;  mita —frugal;  vanya-bhuk —eating whatever is available in the forest.