गत्वा ननाम शिरसा स राधाकृष्णयोर्मुने । भक्त्या च चरणाम्भोजं रासे वृन्दावने वने
Having arrived, he bowed his head to Radha and Krishna, O sage, and with devotion worshipped their lotus feet in the forest of Vrindavan during the rasa dance.
सुदामानं च तौ दृष्ट्वा प्रसन्नवदनेक्षणौ । क्रोडे चक्रतुरत्यन्तं प्रेम्णातिपरिसंयुतौ
Seeing Sudama, those two, with faces beaming with joy, embraced him tightly in their arms, overwhelmed with supreme love.
अथ शलं च वेगेन प्रययौ तं च सादरम् । अस्थिभिः शङ्खचूडस्य शङ्खजातिर्बभूव ह
Then the shell swiftly went to him with reverence, and from the bones of Shankhachuda arose the conch species.
नानाप्रकाररूपेण शश्वत्पूता सुरार्चने । प्रशस्तं शङ्खतोयं च देवानां प्रीतिदं परम्
In various forms, eternally pure through the worship of the gods, the water of the conch is praised as supremely pleasing to the gods.
तीर्थतोयस्वरूपं च पवित्रं शम्भुना विना । शङ्खशब्दो भवेद्यत्र तत्र लक्ष्मीः सुसंस्थिरा
Wherever there is water from the conch, pure as the waters of sacred fords, except for Shiva, there Lakshmi is firmly established.
स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु यः स्नातः शङ्खवारिणा । शङ्खो हरेरधिष्ठानं यत्र शङ्खस्ततो हरिः
He who bathes in conch water is as if bathed in all sacred fords; the conch is the abode of Hari—wherever there is a conch, there is Hari.
तत्रैव वसते लक्ष्मीर्दूरीभूतममङ्गलम् । स्त्रीणां च शङ्खध्वनिभिः शूद्राणां च विशेषतः
There, too, dwells Lakshmi, and all inauspiciousness is driven away, especially by the sound of the conch from women and Shudras.
भीता रुष्टा याति लक्ष्मीस्तत्स्थलादन्यदेशतः । शिवोऽपि दानवं हत्वा शिवलोकं जगाम ह
If Lakshmi is frightened or angered, she departs from that place; and Shiva, having slain the demon, went to Shiva-loka.
प्रहृष्टो वृषभारूढः स्वगणैश्च समावृतः । सुराः स्वविषयं प्रापुः परमानन्दसंयुताः
Mounted upon the bull and surrounded by his attendants, Shiva was filled with joy; the gods, united with supreme bliss, returned to their own realms.
नेदुर्दुन्दुभयः स्वर्गे जगुर्गन्धर्वकिन्नराः । बभूव पुष्पवृष्टिश्च शिवस्योपरि सन्ततम् । प्रशशंसुः सुरास्तं च मुनीन्द्रप्रवरादयः
Drums resounded in heaven, Gandharvas and Kinnaras sang; a continuous shower of flowers fell upon Shiva, and the gods along with eminent sages praised him.
तुलसीमाहात्म्येन सह शालग्राममहत्त्ववर्णनम् नारद उवाच नारायणश्च भगवान्वीर्याधानं चकार ह । तुलस्यां केन रूपेण तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
The greatness of Tulasi along with the description of the importance of Shalagrama. Narada said: O Lord Narayana, you performed the act of valor; by what form did you do so in Tulasi? Please explain this to me.
श्रीनारायण उवाच नारायणश्च भगवान्देवानां साधनेषु च । शङ्खचूडस्य कवचं गहीत्वा विष्णुमायया
Sri Narayana said: The blessed Narayana, for the accomplishment of the gods, took up the armor of Shankhachuda by the power of Vishnu's illusion.
पुनर्विधाय तद्रूपं जगाम तत्सतीगृहम् । पातिव्रतस्य नाशेन शङ्खचूडजिघांसया
Again assuming that form, he went to the house of Shankhachuda's wife, intending to destroy her chastity and to kill Shankhachuda.
दुन्दुभिं वादयामास तुलसीद्वारसन्निधौ । जयशब्दं च तद्द्वारे बोधयामास सुन्दरीम्
He began to play the drum near the entrance of Tulasi's house, and at the door he proclaimed words of victory to awaken the beautiful lady.
तच्छ्रुत्वा च रवं साध्वी परमानन्दसंयुता । राजमार्गे गवाक्षेण ददर्श परमादरात्
Hearing that sound, the virtuous lady, filled with supreme bliss, looked out with great respect through the window onto the royal road.
ब्राह्मणेभ्यो धनं दत्त्वा कारयामास मङ्गलम् । वन्दिभ्यो भिक्षुकेभ्यश्च वाचिभ्यश्च धनं ददौ
She gave wealth to the Brahmins and arranged auspicious rites; she gave money to bards, beggars, and speakers as well.
अवरुह्य रथाद्देवो देव्याश्च भवनं ययौ । अमूल्यरत्ननिर्माणं सुन्दरं सुमनोहरम्
The god descended from the chariot and went to the abode of the goddess, which was crafted from priceless jewels, beautiful and enchanting.
दृष्ट्वा च पुरतः कान्तं सा तं कान्तं मुदान्विता । तत्पादं क्षालयामास ननाम च रुरोद च
Seeing her beloved before her, she, joyful, washed his feet, bowed, and wept.
रत्नसिंहासने रम्ये वासयामास कामुकी । ताम्बूलं च ददौ तस्मै कर्पूरादिसुवासितम्
On the splendid jeweled throne, the passionate lady seated him; she gave him betel leaves, fragrant with camphor and other scents.
अद्य मे सफलं जन्म जीवनं च बभूव ह । रणे गतं च प्राणेशं पश्यन्त्याश्च पुनर्गृहे
Today my birth and life have become fruitful, for I see my lord of life, who had gone to battle, now returned home.
सस्मिता सकटाक्षं च सकामा पुलकाङ्किता । पप्रच्छ रणवृत्तान्तं कान्तं मधुरया गिरा
Smiling, with sidelong glances, desiring and marked with goosebumps, she asked her beloved, in sweet words, about the events of the battle.
तुलस्युवाच असंख्यविश्वसंहर्त्रा सार्धमाजौ तव प्रभो । कथं बभूव विजयस्तन्मे ब्रूहि कृपानिधे
Tulasi said: O Lord, together with the countless destroyers of the universe, you went to battle; how did victory come about? Tell me, O ocean of compassion.
तुलसीवचनं श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य कमलापतिः । शङ्खचूडस्य रूपेण तामुवाचामृतं वचः
Hearing Tulasi's words, the lotus-naveled Lord laughed and, in the form of Shankhachuda, spoke nectar-like words to her.
श्रीभगवानुवाच आवयोः समरः कान्ते पूर्णमब्दं बभूव ह । नाशो बभूव सर्वेषां दानवानां च कामिनि
The Blessed Lord said: O beloved, the battle between us lasted a full year; all the demons were destroyed, O beautiful one.
प्रीतिञ्च कारयामास ब्रह्मा च स्वयमावयोः । देवानामधिकारश्च प्रदत्तस्तस्य चाज्ञया
Brahma himself arranged reconciliation between us, and by his command, authority over the gods was granted.
मयागतं स्वभवनं शिवलोकं शिवो गतः । इत्युक्त्वा जगतां नाथः शयनं च चकार ह
I returned to my own abode, Shiva went to Shiva's world; having said this, the Lord of the worlds lay down to rest.
रेमे रमापतिस्तत्र रामया सह नारद । सा साध्वी सुखसम्भोगादाकर्षणव्यतिक्रमात्
There, O Nārada, the Lord of Lakṣmī sported with Rāma, and that virtuous lady, through the delight of union, was drawn beyond restraint.
सर्वं वितर्कयामास कस्त्वमेवेत्युवाच सा । तुलस्युवाच को वा त्वं वद मायेश भुक्ताहं मायया त्वया
She began to ponder everything and said, 'Who are you, truly?' Tulasi said: 'Who are you? Tell me, Lord of Māyā; I have been enjoyed by you through illusion.'
दूरीकृतं मत्सतीत्वं यदतस्त्वां शपामि हे । तुलसीवचनं श्रुत्वा हरिः शापभयेन च
'My chastity has been taken from me, so I curse you.' Hearing Tulasi's words and fearing the curse, Hari—
दधार लीलया ब्रह्मन् सुमूर्तिं सुमनोहराम् । ददर्श पुरतो देवी देवदेवं सनातनम्
—playfully, O Brāhmaṇa, assumed a most beautiful and charming form. The goddess saw before her the eternal Lord of the gods.