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.'
इयं तनुर्नदीरूपा गण्डकीति च विश्रुता । पूता सुपुण्यदा नॄणां पुण्ये भवतु भारते
'This body of yours will become a river, famed as Gaṇḍakī, pure and bestowing great merit to people in Bhārata.'
तव केशसमूहश्च पुण्यवृक्षो भविष्यति । तुलसीकेशसम्भूता तुलसीति च विश्रुता
'And your hair will become a sacred plant, arising as Tulasī, renowned by that name.'
त्रिषु लोकेषु पुष्पाणां पत्राणां देवपूजने । प्रधानरूपा तुलसी भविष्यति वरानने
'In all three worlds, among flowers and leaves used in worship of the gods, Tulasī will be foremost, O beautiful-faced one.'
स्वर्गे मर्त्ये च पाताले गोलोके मम सन्निधौ । भव त्वं तुलसी वृक्षवरा पुष्पेषु सुन्दरी
'In heaven, on earth, in the underworld, and in Goloka in my presence, be you, Tulasī, the best of trees and most beautiful among flowers.'
गोलोके विरजातीरे रासे वृन्दावने वने । भाण्डीरे चम्पकवने रम्ये चन्दनकानने
On the banks of the Virajā in Goloka, in the Rāsa, in the forest of Vṛndāvana, in the Bhāṇḍīra grove, in the charming Campaka grove, and in the sandalwood forest—
माधवीकेतकीकुन्दमालिकामालतीवने । वासस्तेऽत्रैव भवतु पुण्यस्थानेषु पुण्यदः
In the groves of Mādhavī, Ketakī, Kunda, Mālikā, and Mālatī—may your dwelling always be here, in these sacred places that bestow merit.
तुलसीतरुमूलेषु पुण्यदेशेषु पुण्यदम् । अधिष्ठानं च तीर्थानां सर्वेषां च भविष्यति
At the roots of Tulasī trees, in holy places that grant merit, and at all the abodes of pilgrimage, your presence will be established.
तत्रैव सर्वदेवानां ममाधिष्ठानमेव च । तुलसीपत्रपतनप्राप्तये च वरानने
There itself will be my own presence, as well as the presence of all the gods, O fair-faced one, for the sake of receiving the falling of Tulasī leaves.
स स्नातः सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वयज्ञेषु दीक्षितः । तुलसीपत्रतोयेन योऽभिषेकं समाचरेत्
Whoever performs an abhiṣeka with water containing Tulasī leaves, having bathed in all the sacred waters and been initiated in all sacrifices—
सुधाघटसहस्राणां या तुष्टिस्तु भवेद्धरेः । सा च तुष्टिर्भवेन्नूनं तुलसीपत्रदानतः
The satisfaction that Hari receives from a thousand pots of nectar is certainly obtained from the offering of Tulasī leaves.