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.
नवीननीरदश्यामं शरत्पङ्कजलोचनम् । कोटिकन्दर्पलीलाभं रत्नभूषणभूषितम्
He was dark as a fresh raincloud, with eyes like autumn lotuses, possessing the beauty of a million Cupids, adorned with jeweled ornaments.
ईषद्धास्यं प्रसन्नास्यं शोभितं पीतवाससम् । तं दृष्ट्वा कामिनी कामं मूर्च्छां सम्प्राप लीलया
With a gentle smile, a radiant face, and shining yellow garments—seeing him, the passionate lady, overcome by desire, fainted playfully.
पुनश्च चेतनां प्राप्य पुनः सा तमुवाच ह । तुलस्युवाच हे नाथ ते दया नास्ति पाषाणसदृशस्य च
Regaining consciousness again, she spoke to him once more. Tulasi said: 'O Lord, you have no compassion; your heart is like stone.'
छलेन धर्मभङ्गेन मम स्वामी त्वया हतः । पाषाणहृदयस्त्वं हि दयाहीनो यतः प्रभो
'By deceit and violation of dharma, you have slain my husband. Truly, your heart is stone, O Lord, for you are devoid of mercy.'
तस्मात्पाषाणरूपस्त्वं भवे देव भवाधुना । ये वदन्ति च साधुं त्वां ते भ्रान्ता हि न संशयः
'Therefore, from now on, O god, become of stone form. Those who call you virtuous are truly deluded, without doubt.'
भक्तो विनापराधेन परार्थे च कथं हतः । भृशं रुरोद शोकार्ता विललाप मुहुर्मुहुः
'How was a devotee, without fault, slain for another's sake?' Overwhelmed by grief, she wept bitterly and lamented again and again.
ततश्च करुणां दृष्ट्वा करुणारससागरः । नयेन तां बोधयितुमुवाच कमलापतिः
Then, seeing her compassion, the ocean of mercy, Lord of Lakṣmī, spoke to instruct her with gentle words.
श्रीभगवानुवाच तपस्त्वया कृतं भद्रे मदर्थे भारते चिरम् । त्वदर्थे शङ्खचूडश्च चकार सुचिरं तपः
The Blessed Lord said: 'O fortunate one, you performed austerity for me for a long time in Bhārata. For your sake, Śaṅkhacūḍa also performed great penance.'
कृत्वा त्वां कामिनीं सोऽपि विजहार च तत्क्षणात् । अधुना दातुमुचितं तवैव तपसः फलम्
'Having made you his beloved, he enjoyed with you at once. Now, it is fitting to grant you the fruit of your austerity.'
इदं शरीरं त्यक्त्वा च दिव्यदेहं विधाय च । रामे रम मया सार्धं त्वं रमासदृशी भव
'Abandoning this body and taking on a divine form, rejoice with me, Rāma, and become like Lakṣmī herself.'