सम्पूज्य भ्रातरं भक्त्या स रामः शंकराज्ञया
Having worshipped his brother with devotion, Rāma did so by the command of Śaṃkara.
नारद उवाच नैवद्यैर्विविधैः पुष्पैस्तुलसीं च विना कथम्
Nārada said: How can one offer various foods and flowers without Tulasī?
तुलसी सर्वपुष्पाणां मान्या धन्या मनोहरा
Among all flowers, Tulasi is honored, blessed, and enchanting.
नारायण उवाच ब्रह्मकल्पस्य वृत्तान्तं निगूढं च मनोहरम्
Narayana spoke: The account of the Brahma-kalpa is secret and delightful.
एकदा तुलसी देवी प्रोद्भिन्ननवयौवना
Once, Tulasi Devi blossomed into fresh youth.
ददर्श गङ्गातीरे सा गणेशं यौवनान्वितम्
She saw Ganesha, endowed with youth, on the bank of the Ganga.
चन्दनोक्षितसर्वांगं रत्नभूषणभूषितम्
His entire body was smeared with sandalwood and adorned with jeweled ornaments.
जितेन्द्रियाणां प्रवरं योगीन्द्राणां गुरोर्गुरुम् 3.46.
He was the foremost among those who have mastered their senses, the guru of yogis and teachers.
तुलस्युवाच कथं लम्बोदरो देहो गजवक्त्रं कथं तव
Tulasi spoke: How is your body pot-bellied, and how do you have an elephant face?
एकदन्तः कथं वक्त्रे वदामुत्र च कारणम्
How is there a single tusk in your mouth? Tell me the reason for this.
इत्युक्त्वा तुलसी देवी प्रजहास पुनः पुनः
Having said this, Tulasi Devi laughed again and again.
गणेशस्य प्रधानांगे दत्त्वा किञ्चिज्जलं मुने
O sage, she sprinkled a little water on Ganesha’s prominent limb.
बभूव ध्यानभग्नं च तस्य नारद चेतनम्
Narada’s mind became distracted from meditation.
ध्यानं त्यक्त्वा हरिं स्मृत्वा चापश्यत्कामिनीं पुरः
Abandoning meditation, he remembered Hari and saw the passionate woman before him.
लम्बोदरश्च तां दृष्ट्वा परं विनयपूर्वकम्
Seeing her, Lambodara approached with utmost humility.
गणेश्वर उवाच पापदोऽशुभदः शश्वद्ध्यानभंगस्तपस्विनाम्
Ganesha spoke: The interruption of meditation is always sinful and inauspicious for ascetics.
कृष्णः करोतु कल्याणं हन्तु विघ्नं कृपानिधिः
May Krishna, the ocean of mercy, grant auspiciousness and remove obstacles.
गणेशवचनं श्रुत्वा तमुवाच स्मरातुरा 3.46.
Hearing Ganesha’s words, she, afflicted by love, spoke to him.
तुलस्युवाच तपस्या मे स्वामिनोऽर्थे त्वं स्वामी भव मे प्रभो
Tulasi spoke: My austerity is for a master; you, O Lord, become my master.
तुलसीवचनं श्रुत्वा गणेशः श्रीहरिं स्मरन्
Hearing Tulasi’s words, Ganesha remembered Shri Hari.
गणेश उवाच दारग्रहो हि दुःखाय न सुखाय कदाचन
Ganesha said: The taking of a wife is always a cause of sorrow, never of happiness.
हरिभक्तेर्व्यवायश्च तपस्यानाशकारकः
Sexual intercourse is destructive to devotion to Hari and to the fruits of austerity.
गर्भवासकरः शश्वत्तत्त्वज्ञाननिकृन्तकः
It leads to repeated births in the womb and severs true knowledge of reality.
गेहोऽयं कारणानां च सर्वमायाकरण्डकम्
This house is the basket of all causes and the very container of illusion.
निवर्तस्व महाभागे पश्यान्यं कामुकं पतिम्
Withdraw, O highly fortunate one, and seek another lover as your husband.
इत्येवं वचनं श्रुत्वा कोपात्सा तं शशाप ह
Hearing these words, she, in anger, cursed him.
इत्याकर्ण्य सुरश्रेष्ठस्तां शशाप शिवात्मजः
Hearing this, the best of the gods, the son of Shiva, cursed her.
तत्पश्चान्महतां शापाद्वृक्षस्त्वं भवितेति च 3.46.
Then, by the curse of the great ones, you shall become a tree.
शापं श्रुत्वा तु तुलसी सा रुरोद पुनः पुनः
Hearing the curse, Tulasi wept again and again.
गणेश्वर उवाच कलांशेन महाभागे स्वयं नारायणप्रिया
Ganesha said: O highly fortunate one, by a portion of yourself, you are beloved of Narayana himself.