He who partakes of the water that has bathed the Śālagrāma stone is as if bathed in all the sacred rivers and initiated into every sacrifice. The merit he gains equals that of giving away all gifts or circumambulating the entire earth. All the holy places yearn for his touch, just as they do for one who recites the four Vedas or performs great austerities. Indeed, when a devotee daily drinks the water from the Śālagrāma stone, all the sacred places long to be touched by him. In that very act, alongside Lord Hari, countless material elements are dissolved. Whatever sins exist—even the gravest, such as the killing of a Brāhmaṇa and other heinous acts—are instantly removed by the dust of his lotus feet, purifying the earth itself. Whoever receives water from the Śālagrāma stone at the time of death attains liberation and is freed from the bondage of actions. But there are grave consequences for those who, holding the Śālagrāma stone, utter falsehoods, or who, after touching the stone, fail to keep their vows. Similarly, one who breaks a tulasī leaf for use in the worship of Śālagrāma, or for use in a conch, must be wary. When Śālagrāma, tulasī, and conch are present together in one place, they are supremely sacred, and if anyone, even once, commits a grievous act such as depositing semen upon any of these, that person becomes dear to Śaṃkhacūḍa for the duration of a manvantara—a span of cosmic time. Having thus spoken, Śrī Hari respectfully fell silent. Just as Lakṣmī herself dwells eternally upon Hari’s chest, so too did she reside there. O Nārada, from the body of Tulasī, together with Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī, and Gaṅgā, immediately arose the sacred river Gaṇḍakī. In that holy place, O sage, insects fashion many kinds of stones. Those stones found on land are called piṅgalā and are considered afflicted by Hari. At this point, Nārada spoke: “I have not yet heard the method of her worship or the hymn in her praise. O sage, by whom was she first worshipped and extolled?” Sūta then began to narrate the ancient, meritorious story. He explained: “Lord Nārāyaṇa made Tulasī equal to Ramā in fortune and honor. Lakṣmī and Gaṅgā endured her new union with patience. Yet, in her pride, one goddess struck another in a quarrel before Hari himself. The goddess—sovereign of all accomplishments, wise, and a perfected yoginī—was thus involved in this strife. When Hari did not see Tulasī, he instructed Sarasvatī. Following his instruction, Sarasvatī went, bathed, and worshipped the faithful Tulasī with offerings of Tulasī leaves. The mantra she used was the ten-syllable one, beginning with the seeds of Lakṣmī, Māyā, Kāma, and Vāṇī: ‘Śrīṃ hrīṃ klīṃ aiṃ vṛndāvanyai svāhā.’ One who worships Tulasī with this mantra according to the proper method attains all accomplishments. She was worshipped with a lamp of ghee, incense, vermilion, and sandalwood. Pleased by the hymn to Hari, Tulasī herself appeared from the tree. Lord Viṣṇu then granted her a boon: ‘Be worshipped throughout the world. All the gods and others will themselves bear you upon their heads.’ Nārada, still filled with wonder, said: ‘O most fortunate one, please explain to me also about Tulasī.