The Blessed Lord addressed the divine Sarasvati, saying, “On earth, you will be born as a daughter, but not through the ordinary way of the womb. There, by the workings of fate, you will also take the form of a tree. In time, you will become my wife—this is certain and without doubt. O beautiful-faced one, by a portion of yourself, become a river and swiftly proceed. By another portion, you will become Ganga, and later you will purify the whole world. You will descend to earth, brought down by the most difficult austerities performed by Bhagiratha. By my command, become also the wife of the ocean, who is a portion of my own divine intoxication. By the curse of Ganga, you will go as a portion to Bharata, O Bharati, and you yourself will go to the abode of Brahma and become Brahma’s beloved—peaceful, free from anger, devoted to me, and of my own form. By various parts and portions of yourselves, all of you will be righteous and devoted to your husbands. There will be three wives, three brothers-in-law, three servants, and relatives. Yet, in the house where women rule over men and the husband is under the wife’s control, where a man’s wife is foul-mouthed, impure in conduct, and fond of quarrels, there only misfortune is found, and the place seems as if ancient and worn. It is better to remain even in fire or among violent creatures, for happiness is more likely there. O beautiful-faced one, for men, even the flames of disease or poison are preferable. Truly, the life of a man conquered by a woman is fruitless; such a man is reviled everywhere in this world and, in the next, goes to hell. For co-wives, it is not good for them to dwell together in one place. Go, O Sarasvati, to the place of Shiva, to the abode of Brahma, and to the Ganga. He whose wife is easily managed, virtuous, and devoted to her husband—such a man is liberated, pure, and happy. Having spoken thus, the Lord of the worlds, Narada, became silent. Then, after thoughtful consideration, all the goddesses spoke in turn to the Lord. Sarasvati asked, “If a virtuous husband abandons his wife, where should such a woman live? I will surely give up my body through yoga in Bharata.” Ganga said, “I too will give up my body; grant death to one who is faultless. Whoever abandons a faultless, loving woman in this world…” Then Lakshmi spoke, “Grant us your favor, and forgiveness from the Lord. If, by the curse of Bharati, I must go to Bharata in a portion of myself, then sinners will give their sins to me by bathing and immersing themselves in me. By a portion of myself, I will become Tulasi, the virtuous daughter of Dharmadhvaja. I will become, in the form of a tree, the presiding deity over it. If, by the curse of Sarasvati, Ganga goes to Bharata, and if, by the curse of Ganga, Sarasvati goes to Bharata, then let Sarasvati go to the abode of Brahma, or Ganga to the temple of Shiva.” Having spoken thus, Lakshmi bowed down, holding the feet of her beloved. Padmanabha, drawing her radiance to his own chest, spoke to her. Narayana said, “I will bring about equality; listen now to the sequence of events.