स्थलस्थाः पिङ्गला ज्ञेयाश्चोपतापाद्रवेरिति । इत्येवं कथितं सर्वं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि
Those on land are to be known as tawny and, due to affliction, as impure; thus everything has been told—what more do you wish to hear?
तुलसीपूजाविधिवर्णनम् नारद उवाच तुलसी च यदा पूज्या कृता नारायणप्रिया । अस्याः पूजाविधानं च स्तोत्रं च वद साम्प्रतम्
Description of the method of worship of Tulasī. Nārada said: When Tulasī, beloved of Nārāyaṇa, is to be worshipped, tell me now the method of her worship and her hymn.
केन पूजा कृता केन स्तुता प्रथमतो मुने । तत्र पूज्या सा बभूव केन वा वद मामहो
By whom was she first worshipped, by whom first praised, O sage? Tell me by whom she became worthy of worship.
सूत उवाच नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । कथां कथितुमारेभे पुण्यां पापहरां पराम्
Sūta said: Hearing Nārada's words, the best of sages smiled and began to tell the most auspicious and sin-destroying story.
श्रीनारायण उवाच हरिः संपूज्य तुलसीं रेमे च रमया सह । रमासमानसौभाग्यां चकार गौरवेण च
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: Hari, having worshipped Tulasī, enjoyed himself with Ramā; he honored her, whose fortune was equal to Ramā's.
सेहे च लक्ष्मीर्गङ्गा च तस्याश्च नवसङ्गमम् । सौभाग्यगौरवं कोपात्ते न सेहे सरस्वती
Lakṣmī and Gaṅgā endured her new union, but Sarasvatī, out of anger, could not bear her fortune and honor.
सा तां जघान कलहे मानिनी हरिसन्निधौ । व्रीडया चापमानेन सान्तर्धानं चकार ह
She, proud, struck her in conflict in the presence of Hari; out of shame and humiliation, she vanished.
सर्वसिद्धेश्वरी देवी ज्ञानिनां सिद्धियोगिनी । जगामादर्शनं कोपात्सर्वत्र च हरेरहो
The Goddess, sovereign of all powers and bestower of yogic perfection to the wise, disappeared everywhere from Hari, out of anger.
हरिर्न दृष्ट्वा तुलसीं बोधयित्वा सरस्वतीम् । तदनुज्ञां गहीत्वा च जगाम तुलसीवनम्
Hari, not seeing Tulasī, instructed Sarasvatī; then, taking her permission, he went to the grove of Tulasī.
तत्र गत्वा च सुस्नातो हरिः स तुलसीं सतीम् । पूजयामास तां ध्यात्वा स्तोत्रं भक्त्या चकार ह
There, having arrived and bathed well, Hari worshipped the virtuous Tulasī, meditated upon her, and composed a hymn with devotion.
लक्ष्मीमायाकामवाणीबीजपूर्वं दशाक्षरम् । वृन्दावनीति ङेऽन्तं च वह्निजायान्तमेव च
With the ten-syllable mantra beginning with Lakṣmī, Māyā, Kāma, and Vāṇī, ending with 'Vṛndāvanī' and 'born of fire'.
अनेन कल्पतरुणा मन्त्रराजेन नारद । पूजयेद्यो विधानेन सर्वसिद्धिं लभेद् ध्रुवम्
With this wish-fulfilling, royal mantra, O Nārada, whoever worships properly will surely attain all accomplishments.
घृतदीपेन धूपेन सिन्दूरचन्दनेन च । नैवेद्येन च पुष्पेण चोपचारेण नारद
With ghee lamps, incense, vermilion, sandalwood, offerings, flowers, and proper service, O Nārada.
हरिस्तोत्रेण तुष्टा सा चाविर्भूता महीरुहात् । प्रसन्ना चरणाम्भोजे जगाम शरणं शुभा
Satisfied by Hari's hymn, she appeared from the tree, gracious, and approached his lotus feet for refuge.
वरं तस्यै ददौ विष्णुः सर्वपूज्या भवेरिति । अहं त्वां धारयिष्यामि सुरूपां मूर्ध्नि वक्षसि
Viṣṇu granted her a boon: 'You shall be worshipped by all; I will bear you, beautiful, upon my head and chest.'
सर्वे त्वां धारयिष्यन्ति स्वमूर्ध्नि च सुरादयः । इत्युक्त्वा तां गृहीत्वा च प्रययौ स्वालयं विभुः
All the gods will bear you upon their own heads; having spoken thus and taken her, the Lord departed to his abode.
नारद उवाच किं ध्यानं स्तवनं किं वा किं वा पूजाविधानकम् । तुलस्याश्च महाभाग तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि
Nārada said: 'What meditation, hymn, or worship method is there for Tulasī, O blessed one? Please explain it to me.'
श्रीनारायण उवाच अन्तर्हितायां तस्यां च हरिर्वृन्दावने तदा । तस्याश्चक्रे स्तुतिं गत्वा तुलसीं विरहातुरः
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: 'When she was hidden, Hari, in Vṛndāvana, went and composed a hymn, afflicted by separation from Tulasī.'
श्रीभगवानुवाच वृन्दरूपाश्च वृक्षाश्च यदैकत्र भवन्ति च । विदुर्बुधास्तेन वृन्दां मत्प्रियां तां भजाम्यहम्
The Blessed Lord said: 'Wherever trees in the form of Vṛndā are found together, the wise know that Vṛndā, my beloved, is worshipped there by me.'
पुरा बभूव या देवी त्वादौ वृन्दावने वने । तेन वृन्दावनी ख्याता सौभाग्या तां भजाम्यहम्
The goddess who once existed in the forest of Vṛndāvana at the beginning—therefore she is famed as Vṛndāvanī, fortunate; I worship her.
असंख्येषु च विश्वेषु पूजिता या निरन्तरम् । तेन विश्वपूजिताऽऽख्यां पूजितां च भजाम्यहम्
She who is worshipped ceaselessly in countless worlds—thus she is called 'worshipped by all', and I worship her.
असंख्यानि च विश्वानि पवित्राणि त्वया सदा । तां विश्वपावनीं देवीं विरहेण स्मराम्यहम्
Countless worlds are always purified by you; remembering that goddess, purifier of all, I grieve in separation.
देवा न तुष्टाः पुष्पाणां समूहेन यया विना । तां पुष्पसारां शुद्धां च द्रष्टुमिच्छामि शोकतः
The gods are not satisfied by masses of flowers without her; desiring to see that pure essence of flowers, I am sorrowful.
विश्वे यत्प्राप्तिमात्रेण भक्तानन्दो भवेद् ध्रुवम् । नन्दिनी तेन विख्याता सा प्रीता भवतादिह
By whose mere attainment in the world, devotees surely experience bliss—thus she is renowned as Nandinī, and here she is pleased.
यस्या देव्यास्तुला नास्ति विश्वेषु निखिलेषु च । तुलसी तेन विख्याता तां यामि शरणं प्रियाम्
There is no equal to this goddess among all beings in the universe; she is renowned as Tulasī. I seek refuge in that beloved one.
कृष्णजीवनरूपा सा शश्वत्प्रियतमा सती । तेन कृष्णजीवनी सा सा मे रक्षतु जीवनम्
She is the very life of Krishna, eternally most dear and pure; therefore, as Krishna’s lifegiver, may she protect my life.
इत्येवं स्तवनं कृत्वा तस्थौ तत्र रमापतिः । ददर्श तुलसीं साक्षात्पादपद्मनतां सतीम्
Having thus recited this hymn, the Lord of Lakshmi remained there and saw Tulasī herself, devoted and bowing at his lotus feet.
रुदतीमवमानेन मानिनीं मानपूजिताम् । प्रियां दृष्ट्वा प्रियः शीघ्रं वासयामास वक्षसि
Seeing his beloved, who was weeping from humiliation, proud yet honored for her dignity, the dear one swiftly embraced her to his chest.
भारत्याज्ञां गहीत्वा च स्वालयं च ययौ हरिः । भारत्या सह तत्प्रीतिं कारयामास सत्वरम्
Taking Bhāratī’s command, Hari went to his own abode and, together with Bhāratī, quickly established their mutual affection.
वरं विष्णुर्ददौ तस्यै सर्वपूज्या भवेरिति । शिरोधार्या च सर्वेषां वन्द्या मान्या ममेति च
Viṣṇu granted her a boon: 'You shall be worshipped by all, honored on everyone’s head, revered, respected, and dear to me.'