तुलस्युवाच सर्वज्ञस्यापि पुरतः का लज्जा मम साम्प्रतम्
Tulasi said: In the presence of the all-knowing one, what shame could there be for me now?
अहं च तुलसी गोपी गोलोकेऽहं स्थिता पुरा
And I, Tulasi, was once a gopi, dwelling in Goloka.
गोविन्देन सहासक्तामतृप्तां मां च मूर्च्छिताम्
Attached to Govinda, unsatisfied and fainting, I was—
गोविन्दं भर्त्सयामास मां शशाप रुषाऽन्विता
Radhika, angered, rebuked Govinda and cursed me.
मामुवाच स गोविन्दो मदंशं त्वं चतुर्भुजम्
Govinda said to me: 'You shall become a portion of me, four-armed.'
इत्येवमुक्त्वा देवेशोऽप्यन्तर्धानमवाप सः
Having spoken thus, the Lord of the gods disappeared from sight.
अहं नारायणं कान्तं शान्तं सुन्दविग्रहम्
I beheld Narayana, my beloved, serene, with a beautiful form.
ब्रह्मोवाच तदंशश्चातितेजस्वी चालभज्जन्म भारते ।। 2.15.
Brahma said: That portion, exceedingly radiant, was born in Bharata as Alabhya.
साम्प्रतं राधिकाशापाद्दनुवंशसमुद्भवः
Now, due to Radhika's curse, he was born in the race of the Danavas.
गोलोके त्वां पुरा दृष्ट्वा कामोन्मथितमानसः
Having seen you before in Goloka, his mind was agitated by desire.
स च जातिस्मरस्तप्त्वा त्वां ललाभ वरेण च
He, remembering his past birth, performed austerities and obtained you by a boon.
अधुना तस्य पत्नी च भव भाविनि शोभने
Now, O beautiful and auspicious one, become his wife.
शापान्नारायणस्यैव कलया दैवयोगतः
By the curse of Narayana himself, through a portion and by divine arrangement—
प्रधाना सर्वपुष्पाणां विष्णुप्राणाधिका भवेत्
You shall become the foremost among all flowers, dearer to Vishnu than life.
वृन्दावने वृक्षरूपा नाम्ना वृन्दावनीति च
In Vrindavana, you will take the form of a tree, and be known by the name Vrinda.
वृक्षाधिदेवीरूपेण सार्द्धं कृष्णेन सन्ततम्
As the goddess presiding over trees, you will always be with Krishna.
इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा सस्मिता हृष्टमानसा
Hearing these words, she smiled, her heart filled with joy.
तुलत्युवाच सत्यं ब्रवीमि हे तात न तथा च चतुर्भुजे।।2.15.
Tula spoke: I speak the truth, O father, it is not so with the four-armed one.
अतृप्ताऽहं च गोविन्दे दैवाच्छृङ्गारभंगतः
I am unsatisfied with Govinda, as fate has interrupted the passion.
तत्प्रसादेन गोविन्दं पुनरेव सुदुर्लभम्
By his grace, Govinda, who is extremely rare, will again be attained.
ब्रह्मोवाच तस्याश्च प्राणतुल्या त्वं मद्वरेण भविष्यसि
Brahma spoke: By my boon, you will become as dear to her as life itself.
शृंगारं युवयोर्गोप्यमाज्ञास्यति च राधिका
Radhika will command that your love remain secret between you both.
इत्येवमुक्त्वा दत्त्वा च देव्यै तत्षोडशाक्षरम्
Having spoken thus, he gave to the goddess the sixteen-syllable mantra.
सर्वं पूजाविधानं च पुरश्चर्याविधिक्रमम्
He also imparted the entire method of worship and the prescribed rites of preparation.
सा च ब्रह्मोपदेशेन पुण्ये बदरिकाश्रमे
By Brahma's instruction, she performed them in the sacred Badarikā hermitage.
दिव्यं द्वादशवर्षं च पूजां चैव चकार सा
For twelve divine years, she carried out the worship.
सिद्धे तपसि मन्त्रे च वरं प्राप्य यथेप्सितम्
When the austerity and mantra were perfected, she obtained the desired boon.
प्रसन्नमानसा देवी तत्याज तपसः क्लमम् 2.15.
The goddess, her mind content, abandoned the fatigue of austerity.
भुक्त्वा पीत्वा च सन्तुष्टा शयनं च चकार सा
Having eaten and drunk, satisfied, she lay down to rest.
नारायण उवाच नवयौवनसम्पन्ना प्रशंसन्ती वरांगना
Nārāyaṇa spoke: Endowed with fresh youth, the excellent woman praised.