तुभ्यं दुःखनिरासाय प्रोक्तमाख्यानमुत्तमम् । यावद्देहोस्ति कर्माणि सुखदुःखानि कर्मतः
This excellent story has been told to you for the removal of your sorrow; as long as the body endures, pleasure and pain arise from actions.
देही भुंक्ते वशो राजन्त्राणं न ज्ञानतः परम् । कृष्णादीनां देहबंधे सुखदुःखादि वर्तते
The embodied one experiences according to fate, O King; there is no other means but action. Even for Kṛṣṇa and others, happiness and sorrow arise from bodily bonds.
तत्रेतरेषां किं वाच्यं ये वैराग्यपराङ्मुखाः । ज्ञात्वेदृशीं कर्मगतिं सर्वेभ्यो बलवत्तमाम्
What need is there to speak of others who are averse to detachment, having known such a powerful course of karma?
धीरो भव प्रतीक्षस्व शुभकर्मागमं पुनः । शत्रून्जित्वा तु समये स्वं राज्यं पुनराप्स्यसि
Be steadfast, wait for the coming of good actions again; having conquered your enemies at the right time, you will regain your kingdom.
इतिहासमिमं श्रुत्वा न दुःखै परिभूयते । धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाश्च यथावच्चात्र कीर्त्तिताः
Hearing this ancient tale, one is not overcome by sorrows; here, the paths of righteousness, wealth, desire, and liberation are properly described.
स्वर्ग्यं पापहरं पुण्यं शोकमोहविनाशनम् । ब्राह्मणो ज्ञानमाप्नोति राज्यं प्राप्नोति क्षत्रियः
It leads to heaven, destroys sin, brings merit, and removes grief and delusion; a Brahmin attains knowledge, and a Kshatriya attains sovereignty.
वैश्यश्च बह्वीं संपत्तिं श्रुत्वा शूद्रः सुखं लभेत् । यो राजा भ्रष्टराज्योऽपि रतः सन्नेव सत्पथि
A Vaishya gains abundant wealth, and a Shudra finds happiness by hearing it; even a king who has lost his kingdom, if devoted to the right path,
स राज्यं पुनराप्नोति श्रवणान्नित्यमस्य तु । आकर्ण्यैतत्सतां राजन्श्राव्यमन्यन्न रोचते
He regains his kingdom by regularly listening to this; O King, after hearing this pure narrative, nothing else pleases the hearts of the virtuous.
कलं च कोकिलालापं रूक्षं ध्वांक्षरुतं यथा । आख्यानमेतदनघं श्रुत्वा सज्जनहृत्प्रियः
Just as the sweet call of the cuckoo is pleasing compared to the harsh cry of the crow, so too is this sinless story dear to the hearts of the good when heard.
हिरण्यतिलवस्त्राद्यैर्धेनुभूमिप्रदानतः । संतोषयेद्वाचकं तु तस्मिंस्तुष्टे फलं लभेत्
One should satisfy the reciter with gifts of gold, sesame, cloth, cows, or land; when the reciter is pleased, the fruit is obtained.
देवताश्च प्रसीदेयुरर्चिते वाचके गुरौ । अन्नदानानि दद्याच्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यः प्रपूजयेत्
The gods are pleased when the reciting teacher is honored; one should give food offerings and show reverence to Brahmins.
जायते विजयी नित्यं पुत्रपौत्रसमृद्धिमान् । जायते विष्णुलोके यः शृणोत्याख्यानमुत्तमम् 6.18.
One who hears this excellent narrative is always victorious, blessed with sons and grandsons, and is born in the world of Vishnu.
इति व्याजेन भो भूप तुलस्युत्पत्तिकारणम् । ये शृण्वंति नरश्रेष्ठा न तेषां पातकं क्वचित्
Thus, O King, by this account the reason for the origin of Tulasi is told; those best among men who hear it are never touched by sin.
तुलसीमाहात्म्यमिदं पवित्रं पापनाशनम् । श्रुत्वा तु लभते मोक्षमुक्त्वा चैव न संशयः
This sacred greatness of Tulasi destroys sin; by hearing it, one attains liberation—there is no doubt about this.
स्वगृहे रोपिता चैव तुलसी पापनाशिनी । दर्शनाद्ब्रह्महत्यापि नश्यते नात्र संशयः
Tulasi, when planted in one's own home, destroys sin; even the sin of killing a Brahmin is destroyed by seeing it—of this there is no doubt.
कार्तिके चैव माघे तु तुलस्या पूजयेद्धरिम् । वैशाखे तु विशेषेण पूजनं च हरेः स्मृतम्
In Kartika and Magha, one should worship Hari with Tulasi; especially in Vaishakha, the worship of Hari is remembered.
एकेनैव प्रदक्षिणेन सकलं पापं गतं वै सदा ये शूद्रा । भुवि संति दाननिरताः कालेन शुद्धिं गताः । तेपि स्युः सुरपूजनार्हतनवः पापाच्च दूरं गताः ये वै। विष्णुजनाश्च दुर्लभतरा ह्यस्मिन्कलौ सांप्रतम्
By a single circumambulation, all sin is always destroyed; those Shudras on earth who are devoted to giving, in time become purified; they too become worthy of worshipping the gods, far removed from sin, but devotees of Vishnu are now very rare in this Kali age.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच- श्रीशैलः पर्वतो रम्यः कुत्र तिष्ठति नारद । किं तत्र वर्त्तते तीर्थं कस्य देवस्य पूजनम् । कस्यां दिशि समाख्यातो लोकेषु च वदाधुना
Yudhishthira said: O Nārada, where does the beautiful mountain Śrīśaila stand? What sacred place is there, which deity is worshipped, and in which direction is it known among people? Tell me now.
नारद उवाच- शृणु राजन्प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रीशैलं पर्वतोत्तमम् । यं श्रुत्वा मुच्यते लोको बालहत्यादि पातकात्
Nārada said: Listen, O King, I will describe the supreme mountain Śrīśaila; by hearing of it, people are freed from the sin of killing children and other great sins.
तत्पर्वतवनं रम्यं मुनिभिश्चोपसेवितम् । नानाद्रुमलताकीर्णं नानापुष्पोपशोभितम्
That mountain forest is delightful and frequented by sages; it is filled with various trees and creepers, adorned with many kinds of flowers.
हंसकोकिलनादैश्च मयूरध्वनिनादितम् । श्रीवृक्षैश्च कपित्थैश्च शिरीषै राजवृक्षकैः
It resounds with the calls of swans and cuckoos, and the cries of peacocks; there are auspicious trees, wood-apples, silk-cotton trees, and royal trees.
पारिजातकपुष्पैश्च कदंबोदुंबरैस्तथा । नानापुष्पैः सुगंधाढ्यैर्वासितं तद्वनं गिरौ
There are also flowers of pārijāta, kadamba, and udumbara; that forest on the mountain is perfumed with various fragrant flowers.
सर्वाभिरृषिपत्नीभिः सशिष्याभिः सुसेवितम् । केचिदभ्यासयुक्ताश्च केचिद्व्याख्यानतत्पराः
It was well attended by all the wives of the sages, along with their disciples; some were engaged in practice, and others devoted to exposition.
केचिदूर्ध्वभुजास्तत्र अंगुष्ठाग्रैः स्थिताः परे । शिवध्यानरताः केचित्केचिद्विष्णुपरायणाः
Some stood there with arms raised, others standing on their fingertips; some were absorbed in meditation on Shiva, and others devoted to Vishnu.
निराहाराश्च केप्यत्र केचित्पर्णाशने रताः । कंदमूलफलाहाराः केचिन्मौनव्रताः स्थिताः
Some there were fasting, some delighted in eating leaves; some subsisted on roots, tubers, and fruits, and some observed the vow of silence.
एकपादाः स्थिताः केचित्केचित्पद्मासने स्थिताः । केचिच्चैव निराहारास्तपस्तेपुः सुदुष्करम्
Some stood on one foot, others sat in the lotus posture; and some, indeed, practiced severe austerities without food.
आश्रमाणि च पुण्यानि नद्यश्च विविधाः शुभाः । देवखातान्यनेकानि तडागानि बहूनि च
There were also holy hermitages, various auspicious rivers, many divine reservoirs, and numerous ponds.
पर्वतोऽयं महाराज दृश्यते किल सर्वतः । मल्लिकार्जुनको राजन्यत्र तिष्ठति नित्यशः
O great king, this mountain is said to be visible from all sides; here, Mallikārjuna always resides.
तच्चैव शिखरं रम्यं पर्वतोपरि सेवितम् । शृंगदर्शनमात्रेण मुक्तिरेव न संशयः
That beautiful peak, well attended atop the mountain—by merely seeing its summit, there is surely liberation, without doubt.
दक्षिणां दिशमाश्रित्य वर्त्तते पर्वतोत्तमः । अत्र गंगा महद्रम्या पातालेति समाश्रिता
This supreme mountain lies toward the southern direction; here, the great and delightful Ganga is established, flowing down.