नारायण उवाच हरिः संपूज्य तुष्टाव तुलसीं विरहातुरः
Nārāyaṇa said: Hari, tormented by separation, worshipped and praised Tulasī.
श्रीभगवानुवाच विदुर्बुधास्तेन वृन्दां मत्प्रियां तां भजा म्यहम्
The Blessed Lord said: Therefore, the wise know Vṛndā as dear to me, and I worship her.
पुरा बभूव या देवी ह्यादौ वृन्दावने वने
She who was the goddess in ancient times, at first in the forest of Vṛndāvana,
असंख्येषु च विश्वेषु पूजिता या निरन्तरम् 2.22.
She who has been constantly worshipped in countless universes,
असंख्यानि च विश्वानि पवित्राणि यया सदा
By whom countless worlds are always made pure,
देवा न तुष्टाः पुष्पाणां समूहेन यया विना
Without whom the gods are not satisfied, even with heaps of flowers,
विश्वे यत्प्राप्तिमात्रेण भक्त्याऽऽनन्दो भवेद्ध्रुवम्
By whose mere attainment, with devotion, there is surely joy in all the worlds,
यस्या देव्या स्तुला नास्ति विश्वेषु निखिलेषु च
There is no equal to that goddess in all the worlds,
कृष्णजीवनरूपा या शश्वत्प्रियतमा सती
She who is the very form of Kṛṣṇa’s life, eternally the most beloved and chaste,
इत्येवं स्तवनं कृत्वा तत्र तस्थौ रमापतिः
Having thus offered this praise, the Lord of Lakṣmī stood there.
रुदतीमभिमानेन मानिनीं मानपूजिताम्
He saw her, proud and honored, weeping with self-respect.
भारत्याज्ञां गृहीत्वा च स्वालयं च ययौ हरिः
Having received Bhāratī’s command, Hari returned to his own abode.
वरं विष्णुर्ददौ तस्यै विश्वपूज्या भवेति च
Viṣṇu granted her a boon: 'You shall be worshipped by the whole universe.'
विष्णोर्वरेण सा देवी परितुष्टा बभूव ह 2.22.
By Viṣṇu’s boon, that goddess became completely satisfied.
लक्ष्मीर्गङ्गा सस्मिता तां समाश्लिष्य च नारद
Lakṣmī and Gaṅgā, smiling, embraced her, O Nārada.
वृन्दां वृन्दावनीं विश्वपावनींविश्वपूजिताम्
Vṛndā, the goddess of Vṛndāvana, purifier of the worlds, worshipped by the universe.
एतन्नामाष्टकं चैत त्स्तोत्रं नामार्थसंयुतम्
This eightfold name and this hymn are endowed with the meaning of the names.
कार्तिकीपूर्णिमायां च तुलस्या जन्म मङ्गलम्
On the full moon of Kārtika, the auspicious birth of Tulasī is celebrated.
तस्यां यः पूजयेत्तां च भक्त्या च विश्वपावनीम्
Whoever worships her on that day with devotion, the purifier of the world,
कार्त्तिके तुलसीपत्रं विष्णवे यो ददाति च
Whoever offers Tulasī leaves to Viṣṇu in the month of Kārtika,
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं प्रियाहीनो लभेत्प्रियाम्
A childless person obtains a child; one deprived of a beloved attains a beloved.
रोगी प्रमुच्यते रोगाद्बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात्
The sick are freed from illness; the bound are released from bondage.
इप्येवं कथितं स्तोत्रं ध्यानपूजाविधिं शृणु
Thus this hymn has been described; now hear the method of meditation and worship.
यद्वक्ष्ये पूजयेत्तां च भक्त्या चावाहनं विना 2.22.
What I shall declare, one should worship her with devotion, even without formal invocation.
तुलसीं पुष्पसारां च सतीं पूज्यां मनोहराम्
Tulasī, essence of flowers, chaste, worthy of worship, and enchanting,
पुष्पेषु तुलनाप्यस्या नासीद्देवीषु वा मुने
Among flowers there is no equal to her, nor among goddesses, O sage.
शिरोधार्य्या च सर्वेषामीप्सितां विश्वपावनीम्
She is to be worn on the head by all, the purifier of the world, fulfilling desires.
इति ध्यात्वा च संपूज्य स्तुत्वा च प्रणमेद्बुधः
Having meditated, worshipped, and praised her, the wise should bow down.
नारद उवाच यत्तु सावित्र्युपाख्यानं तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Nārada said: You ought to explain to me the story of Sāvitrī.
पुरा येन समुद्भूता सा श्रुता च श्रुतिप्रसूः
How she arose in ancient times and was heard, the origin of the Vedas.