चिरं प्रेताः पिशाचाश्च मृता जाताः पुनः पुनः। जातकर्ममुखैश्चैव संस्कारैर्ये विविर्जिताः
Remain as ghosts or spirits for a long time, dying and being born again and again, as do those deprived of the rites from birth to funeral.
एकैकस्मिश्च संस्कारे प्रेतत्वं परिहीयते। स्नानसंध्यासुरार्चाभिर्वेदयज्ञव्रताक्षरैः
With each and every rite, ghosthood is diminished—by bathing, twilight worship, offerings to the gods, Vedic study, sacrifice, and vows.
आजन्मवर्जिताः पापास्ते प्रेताश्चापुनर्भवाः। भोजनोच्छिष्टपात्राणि यानि देहमलानि च
Those who, from birth, neglect these duties are sinful and become ghosts who do not return; and those who throw leftover food and bodily filth into sacred waters—
निपातयंति ये तीर्थे ते प्रेता नात्र संशयः। दानमानार्चनैर्नैव यैर्विप्रा भुवि तर्पिताः
—they become ghosts, there is no doubt; and those who do not satisfy Brahmins on earth through gifts, respect, or worship—
पितरो गुरवश्चैव प्रेतास्ते कर्मजा भृशम्। पतिं त्यक्त्वा च या नार्यो वसंति चेतरैर्जनैः
—their ancestors and teachers become ghosts, greatly afflicted by their deeds; and women who abandon their husbands and live with other men—
प्रेतलोके चिरं स्थित्वा जायंते चांत्ययोनिषु। पतिं च वंचयित्वा या विषयेंद्रियमोहिताः
—after dwelling long in the world of ghosts, are born in outcaste wombs; and those who deceive their husbands, deluded by sense pleasures—
मिष्टं चादंति याः पापास्तास्तु प्रेताश्चिरं भुवि। विण्मूत्रभक्षका ये च ब्रह्मस्व भक्षणे रताः
—those sinful women who eat forbidden food become ghosts for a long time on earth; and those who eat excrement and urine, or delight in consuming Brahmin’s property—
अभक्ष्यभक्षकाश्चान्ये ते प्रेताश्चापुनर्भवाः। बलाद्ये परवस्तूनि गृह्णंति न ददत्यपि
—and others who eat what should not be eaten, they too become ghosts who do not return; and those who forcibly take others’ possessions and do not give even when asked—
अतिथीनवमन्यंते प्रेता निरयमास्थिताः। तस्मादामलकीं भुक्त्वा स्नात्वा तस्य द्रवेण च १०० 1.60.
—those who disrespect guests become ghosts dwelling in hell; therefore, after eating the fruit of the amalaki and bathing with its juice—
सर्वपापाद्विनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके महीयते। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन सेवयामलकीं शिवाम्
—one is freed from all sins and honored in the world of Vishnu; therefore, by every effort, serve the auspicious amalaki.
य इदं शृणुयान्नित्यं पुण्याख्यानमिदं शुभम्। सर्वपाप प्रपूतात्मा विष्णुलोके महीयते
Whoever listens daily to this auspicious account of virtue, his soul is purified from all sins and he is honored in the realm of Vishnu.
श्रावयेत्सततं लोके वैष्णवेषु विशेषतः। स याति विष्णुसायुज्यमिति पौराणिका विदुः
One who continually recites it among people, especially among devotees of Vishnu, attains union with Vishnu—so say those learned in the Puranas.
स्कंद उवाच- महीरुह फलं ज्ञातं प्रपूतं द्विविधं प्रभो। इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि पत्रं पुष्पं सुमोक्षदम्
Skanda said: The fruit of the great tree has been understood, O Lord, as twofold and pure. Now I wish to hear about the leaf and flower, which grant supreme liberation.
ईश्वर उवाच- सर्वेभ्यः पत्रपुष्पेभ्यः सत्तमा तुलसी शिवा। सर्वकामप्रदा शुद्धा वैष्णवी विष्णुसुप्रिया
Ishvara said: Among all leaves and flowers, the most excellent is Tulasi, auspicious and pure, bestower of all desires, devoted to Vishnu, and greatly beloved by him.
भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदा मुख्या सर्वलोकपरा शुभा। यामाश्रित्य गताः स्वर्गमक्षयं मुनिसत्तमाः
Chief among those granting enjoyment and liberation, supreme among all worlds, auspicious—those who rely on her, O best of sages, attain heaven that does not perish.
हितार्थं सर्वलोकानां विष्णुनारोपिता पुरा। तुलसीपत्रपुष्पं च सर्वधर्मप्रतिष्ठितम्
For the welfare of all worlds, Vishnu established long ago the leaves and flowers of Tulasi, which are the foundation of all dharmas.
यथा विष्णोः प्रियालक्ष्मीर्यथाहं प्रिय एव च। तथेयं तुलसीदेवी चतुर्थो नोपपद्यते
Just as Lakshmi is dear to Vishnu, and I am dear as well, so too is Tulasi Devi; a fourth does not arise.
तुलसीपत्रमेकं तु शतहेमफलप्रदम्। नान्यैः पुष्पैस्तथापत्रैर्नान्यैर्गंधानुलेपनैः
A single Tulasi leaf grants the fruit of a hundred golden offerings; neither other flowers nor other leaves, nor other fragrant ointments, do so.
तुष्यते दैत्यहा विष्णुस्तुलस्याश्च दलैर्विना। अनेन पूजितो येन हरिर्नित्यं पराशया
The slayer of demons, Vishnu, is not pleased without Tulasi leaves; whoever worships Hari daily with these attains the highest abode.
तेन दत्तं हुतं ज्ञातं कृतं यज्ञव्रतादिकम्। जन्मजन्मनि भासित्वं सुखं भाग्यं यशः श्रियं
Whatever is given, offered, understood, or performed—sacrifice, vow, and the like—by that person, in every birth, brilliance, happiness, fortune, fame, and prosperity accrue.
कुलं शीलं कलत्रं च पुत्रं दुहितरं तथा। धनं राज्यमरोगत्वं ज्ञानं विज्ञानमेव च
Family, character, wife, son, and daughter, as well as wealth, kingdom, health, knowledge, and wisdom—all these are obtained.
वेदवेदांगशास्त्रं च पुराणागमसंहिताः। सर्वं करगतं मन्ये तुलस्याभ्यर्चने हरेः
The Vedas, their branches, scriptures, Puranas, Agamas, and Samhitas—all, I consider, are held in the hand when Hari is worshipped with Tulasi.
यथा गंगा पवित्रांगी सुरलोके विमोक्षदा। यथा भागीरथी पुण्या तथैवं तुलसी शिवा
Just as the Ganga, pure-bodied, grants liberation in the world of the gods, and as the sacred Bhagirathi does, so too does auspicious Tulasi.
किं च गंगाजले नैव किंच पुष्करसेवया। तुलसीदलमिश्रेण जलेनैव प्रमोद्यते
Moreover, neither Ganga water nor service at Pushkara brings such joy as water mixed with Tulasi leaves.
माधवः संमुखो यस्य जन्मजन्मसुधीमतः। तस्य श्रद्धा भवेछ्रुत्वा तुलस्या हरिमर्चितुम्
For one whose intellect is refined birth after birth, Madhava appears before him; hearing this, faith arises to worship Hari with Tulasi.
यो मंजरीदलैरेव तुलस्या विष्णुमर्चयेत्। तस्य पुण्यफलं स्कन्द कथितुं नैव शक्यते
Whoever worships Vishnu with Tulasi's flower clusters and leaves, O Skanda, his merit cannot be described.
तत्र केशवसान्निध्यं यत्रास्ति तुलसीवनम्। तत्र ब्रह्मा च कमला सर्वदेवगणैः सह
Wherever there is a grove of Tulasi and the presence of Kesava, there Brahma and Lakshmi dwell, together with all the hosts of gods.
तस्मात्तां संनिकृष्टे तु सदा देवीं प्रपूजयेत्। स्तोत्रमंत्रादिकं यद्वा सर्वमानंत्यमश्नुते
Therefore, one should always worship that goddess closely; whatever hymns, mantras, or other acts are performed, all attain their highest reward.
ये च प्रेताश्च कूश्मांडाः पिशाचा ब्रह्मराक्षसाः। भूतदैत्यादयस्तत्र पलायंते सदैव हि
And all the spirits, goblins, flesh-eaters, Brahma-rākṣasas, ghosts, demons, and the like, always flee from that place.
अलक्ष्मीर्नाशिनी घूर्णा या डाकिन्यादि मातरः। सर्वाः संकोचितां यांति दृष्ट्वा तु तुलसीदलं
Misfortune, disease, vertigo, and all the mothers such as Ḍākinīs, are all restrained when they see a leaf of Tulasī.