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.
नारायण उवाच द्वितीये च देवगणैस्तत्पश्चाद्विदुषां गणैः
Nārāyaṇa said: In the second age, by the hosts of gods, and afterwards by groups of the learned,
तथा चाश्वपतिः पूर्वं पूजयामास भारते
So also, in former times, Aśvapati worshipped her in Bhārata.
नारद उवाच सर्वपूज्या च सावित्री तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Nārada said: Sāvitrī, who is worthy of all worship—please explain this to me.
नारायण उवाच वैरिणां बलहर्त्ता च मित्राणां दुःखनाशनः
Nārāyaṇa said: She takes away the strength of enemies and destroys the suffering of friends.
आसीत्तस्य महाराज्ञी महिषी धर्मचारिणी
He had a chief queen, a righteous consort devoted to dharma.
सा च राज्ञी महासाध्वी वसिष्ठस्योपदेशतः
That queen, a woman of great virtue, followed the instructions of Vasiṣṭha.
प्रत्यादेशं न सा प्राप महिषी न ददर्श ताम्
Yet she did not receive any command, nor did the queen see her.
राजा तां दुःखितां दृष्ट्वा बोधयित्वा नयेन वै 2.23.
The king, seeing her distressed, consoled her with wise counsel.
तपश्चचार तत्रैव संयतः शतवत्सरम्
There itself, with self-restraint, he performed austerities for a hundred years.
शुश्रावाकाशवाणीं च नृपेन्द्रश्चाशरीरिणीम्
And the king heard a voice from the sky, bodiless.