एवं यः कुरुते सम्यक्कार्तिकस्य व्रतं नरः । विपाप्मा स विनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुसान्निध्यगो भवेत्
Thus, whoever properly observes the vow of Kārtika, that man becomes freed from all sin and attains the presence of Viṣṇu.
सर्वव्रतैः सर्वतीर्थैःस र्वदानैश्च यत्फलम् । तत्कोटिगुणितं ज्ञेयं सम्यगस्य विधानतः
The fruit gained from all vows, all sacred bathing places, and all gifts—know that, when performed properly, this vow yields a result multiplied by ten million times.
ते धन्यास्ते महापुण्यास्तेषां सर्वफलोदयः । विष्णुभक्तिरता ये स्युः कार्तिके व्रतकारिणः
Blessed and greatly meritorious are those whose every desire is fulfilled—those devoted to Viṣṇu who observe the vow in Kārtika.
देहस्थितानि पापानि वितर्कं यांति तद्भयात् । क्व यास्यामो वदंत्येवं यद्ययं व्रतकृन्नरः
The sins residing in the body, out of fear, begin to wonder, 'Where shall we go?' when a man undertakes this vow.
इत्यूर्जव्रतनियमान्शृणोति भक्ता ये चैतत्कथयंति चैव वैष्णवाग्रे । ते सम्यग्व्रतकरणात्फलं लभेरन्तत्सर्वं कलुषविनाशनं लभंते
Those devotees who listen to or recite these regulations of the Urja vow before Vaiṣṇavas, by properly performing the vow, obtain all its fruits and gain the destruction of all impurity.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायामुत्तरखंडे कार्तिकमाहात्म्ये श्रीकृष्णसत्यभामासंवादे उद्यापनवर्णनोनाम पंचनवतितमोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the ninety-fifth chapter, entitled 'Description of the Completion Ceremony,' in the section on the greatness of Kārtika, in the dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Satyabhāmā, in the Uttara-khaṇḍa of the glorious Padma Mahāpurāṇa, comprising fifty-five thousand verses.
पृथुरुवाच- यत्त्वया कथितं ब्रह्मन्व्रतमूर्जस्य विस्तरात् । तत्र या तुलसीमूले विष्णोः पूजा त्वयोदिता
Pṛthu said: O Brāhmaṇa, the vow of Urja which you have described in detail—especially the worship of Viṣṇu at the base of the Tulasī plant as you instructed—
तेनाहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम् । कथं सातिप्रिया विष्णोर्देवदेवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः
Therefore, I wish to ask you about the greatness and origin of Tulasī. How is she so dear to Viṣṇu, the god of gods, the wielder of Śārṅga?
कथमेषा समुत्पन्ना कस्मिंस्थाने च नारद । एतद्ब्रूहि समासेन सर्वज्ञोऽसि मतो हि मे
How did she arise, and in what place, O Nārada? Tell me this in brief, for I consider you to be all-knowing.
नारदउवाच- पुरा रुद्रेण दैत्येंद्रे सिंधुसूनौ निपातिते । प्रणम्य शिरसा रुद्रं देवा ब्रह्मादयोऽब्रुवन् । शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम्
Nārada said: Long ago, when Rudra slew the lord of the demons, the son of the ocean, the gods led by Brahmā bowed their heads to Rudra and spoke. Listen, O King, as I recount the greatness and origin of Tulasī.
सेतिहासं पुरावृत्तं तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते । पुरा शक्रः शिवं द्रष्टुमगात्कैलासपर्वतम् । सर्वदेवैः परिवृतस्त्वप्सरोगणसेवितः
I will tell you the entire ancient story as it happened. Once, Indra went to Mount Kailāsa to see Śiva, surrounded by all the gods and attended by groups of celestial nymphs.
यावद्गतः शिवगृहं तावत्तत्राशु दृष्टवान् । पुरुषं भीमकर्माणं दंष्ट्रानयनभीषणम्
When he reached Śiva’s abode, he immediately saw there a man of terrifying deeds, frightening with his fangs and eyes.
स पृष्टस्तेन कस्त्वं भो क्व गतो जगदीश्वरः । एवं पुनः पुनः पृष्टः स यदा नोचिवान्नृप
Indra questioned him: 'Who are you, sir? Where has the Lord of the universe gone?' Though asked again and again, the man did not reply, O King.
ततः क्रुद्धो वज्रपाणिस्तन्निर्भर्त्स्य वचोऽब्रवीत् । रे मया पृच्छमानोऽपि नोत्तरं दत्तवानसि
Then, the thunderbolt-wielder, angered, rebuked him and said: 'Even though I am asking you, you have not given any answer.'
अतस्त्वां हन्मि वज्रेण कस्ते त्रातास्ति दुर्मते । इत्युदीर्य ततो वज्री वज्रेण चाहनद्दृढम्
'Therefore, I will strike you with my thunderbolt. Who will save you, wicked one?' Saying this, the wielder of the thunderbolt struck him forcefully with his weapon.
तेनास्य कंठे नीलत्वमगाद्वज्रं च भस्मतां । ततो रुद्र प्रजज्वाल तेजसा प्रदहन्निव
Because of this, his neck turned blue and the thunderbolt was reduced to ashes. Then Rudra blazed forth, as if burning with his radiance.
दृष्ट्वा बृहस्पतिस्तूर्णं कृतांजलिपुटोऽभवत् । इंद्रश्चदंडवद्भूमौ कृत्वा स्तोतुं प्रचक्रमे
Seeing this, Bṛhaspati quickly folded his hands in reverence, and Indra, bowing to the ground, began to offer praise.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच- नमो देवाधिदेवाय त्र्यंबकाय कपर्दिने । त्रिपुरघ्नाय शर्वाय नमोंधकनिषूदिने
Bṛhaspati said: 'Salutations to the god of gods, to Tryambaka, the matted-haired one, the slayer of Tripura, to Śarva, and to the destroyer of Andhaka.'
विरूपायातिरूपाय बहुरूपाय शंभवे । यज्ञविध्वंसकर्त्रे च यज्ञानां फलदायिने
Salutation to Śambhu, who is formless and of infinite forms, who is the destroyer of sacrifices and the giver of the fruits of sacrifices.
कालांतकाय कालाय कालभोगधराय च । नमो ब्रह्मशिरोहंत्रे ब्राह्मणाय नमो नमः
Homage to him who is Death to Death, who is Time, who bears the enjoyment of Time; obeisance again and again to the slayer of Brahmā’s head, to the Brāhmaṇa.
नारद उवाच- एवं स्तुतस्तदा शंभुः द्विजर्षभं जगाद ह । संहरन्नयनज्वालं त्रिलोकीदहनक्षमाम्
Nārada said: Thus praised, Śambhu then spoke to the best of Brāhmaṇas, withdrawing the fire from his eye, which was capable of burning the three worlds.
वरं वरय भो ब्रह्मन्प्रीतः स्तुत्यानया तव । इंद्रस्यजीवदानेन जीवति त्वं प्रथां व्रज
Choose a boon, O Brāhmaṇa; I am pleased by your praise. By granting life to Indra, you will attain fame while alive.
बृहस्पतिरुवाच- यदि तुष्टोऽसि देव त्वं याहींद्रं शरणागतम् । अग्निरेष शमं यातु भालनेत्रसमुद्भवः
Bṛhaspati said: If you are pleased, O God, let this fire, born from your forehead, which has sought refuge with Indra, be pacified.
ईश्वर उवाच- पुनः प्रवेशमायाति भालनेत्रे कथं त्वयम् । एनं त्यक्ष्याम्यहं दूरे यथेंद्रं नैव पीडयेत्
Īśvara said: How can this fire, which has entered my forehead-eye, return again? I will cast it far away so that it does not trouble Indra.
नारद उवाच- इत्युक्त्वा तं करे धृत्वा प्राक्षिपल्लवणांभसि । सोऽपतत्सिंधुगंगायाः सागरस्य च संगमे
Nārada said: Having spoken thus, he took it in his hand and cast it into the salt ocean; it fell at the confluence of the river Gaṅgā and the sea.
तदा स बालरूपत्वमगात्तत्र रुरोद च । रुदतस्तस्य शब्देन प्राकंपद्धरणी मुहुः
Then it assumed the form of a child there and began to cry; at the sound of his weeping, the earth trembled again and again.
स्वर्गश्च सत्यलोकश्च तत्स्वनाद्बधिरीकृतौ । श्रुत्वा ब्रह्मा ययौ तत्र किमेतदिति विस्मितः
Heaven and the world of truth were deafened by that sound; hearing it, Brahmā came there, astonished, wondering what it was.
तावत्समुद्रस्योत्संगे तं बालं स ददर्श ह । दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणमायांतं समुद्रोऽपि कृतांजलि
There, on the lap of the ocean, he saw the child; seeing Brahmā approaching, the ocean too joined his palms in reverence.
प्रणम्य शिरसा बालं तस्योत्संगे न्यवेशयेत् । ततो ब्रह्माब्रवीद्वाक्यं कस्यायं शिशुरद्भुतः
Bowing his head, he placed the child on his lap; then Brahmā spoke these words: 'Whose wondrous child is this?'
निशम्येति वचो धातुर्वाक्यं तु सागरोऽब्रवीत् । ब्रह्मा उवाच- सरित्पते कुतो लब्धो बालो ह्येष महाबलः
Hearing these words of the Creator, the ocean replied; Brahmā said: 'O lord of rivers, from where did you obtain this mighty child?'