प्रयागं तीर्थमाश्रित्य वैकुंठं यांति तेऽचिरात् । ये वसिष्ठादयस्तत्र ऋषयः सनकादयः
Those who take refuge in the sacred place of Prayaga swiftly attain Vaikuntha; there, the sages beginning with Vasistha and Sanaka reside.
तेऽपि प्रयागजं तीर्थं सेवंते च पुनःपुनः । यत्र विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च यत्रेंद्रश्च तथा पुनः
Even those sages repeatedly serve the holy site born of Prayaga, where Vishnu, Rudra, and Indra are also present again and again.
तेऽपि सर्वे वसंतीह प्रयागे तीर्थसत्तमे । दानं तत्र प्रशंसंति नियमांश्च तथैव च
All of them dwell here at Prayaga, the foremost of holy places; there, they praise giving and observances as well.
तत्र स्नात्वा च पीत्वा च पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते
By bathing and drinking there, one is freed from rebirth.
इति श्रीपाद्मे महापुराणे पंचपंचाशत्सहस्रसंहितायां उत्तरखण्डे उमापतिनारदसंवादे प्रयागमाहात्म्ये चतुर्विंशोऽध्यायः
Thus ends the twenty-fourth chapter, concerning the greatness of Prayaga, in the dialogue between Umapati and Narada, in the Uttarakanda of the glorious Padma Mahapurana, within the compendium of fifty-five thousand verses.
नारदउवाच- एवं तुलस्या माहात्म्यं त्वत्प्रसादाच्छ्रुतं मया । सांप्रतं तु समाचक्ष्व त्रिरात्रं तुलसीव्रतम्
Narada said: Thus, by your grace, I have heard the greatness of Tulasi. Now, please tell me about the three-night Tulasi vow.
सदाशिव उवाच- शृणु विप्र महाबुद्धे व्रतमेतत्पुरातनम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Sadashiva said: Listen, O wise Brahmin, to this ancient vow; by hearing it, one is freed from all sins—there is no doubt of this.
पुरा रैभ्यंतरे कल्पे राजा ह्यासीत्प्रजापतिः । तस्य भार्या च विख्याता चंद्ररूपा महासती
Long ago, in a previous kalpa, there was a king, a Prajapati; his wife, renowned and of radiant beauty, was supremely virtuous.
सा वै व्रतमिदं चक्रे सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । त्रिरात्रं तु व्रतं तस्या धर्मकामार्थ मोक्षदम्
She performed this vow, which grants all desired fruits; her three-night vow bestowed righteousness, desire, wealth, and liberation.
सफलं जीवितं तेषां यैः श्रुतं तुलसीव्रतम् । कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु नवम्यां चैव नारद
Blessed is the life of those who have heard of the Tulasi vow, O Narada, especially on the ninth day of the bright fortnight in Kartika.
नियमस्थो व्रती तिष्ठेद्भूमिशायी जितेंद्रियः । व्रतं त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य शुचिः संयतमानसः
The observer of the vow should remain disciplined, sleeping on the ground, with controlled senses, pure, and with a restrained mind, for the three nights of the vow.
स्वपेन्नियमपूर्वं तु तुलसीवनसंनिधौ । ततो मध्याह्नसमये नद्यादौ विमले जले
He should sleep according to the prescribed rule in the presence of a Tulasi grove; then, at midday, in pure water of a river or similar place—
स्नानं कृत्वा पितॄन्देवांस्तर्पयेद्विधिपूर्वकम् । सुवर्णं कारयेद्देवं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम्
After bathing, he should offer libations to the ancestors and gods according to the proper method; he should have an image of Janardana with Lakshmi made of gold.
वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यमात्मनः श्रेयमिच्छता । वस्त्रयुग्मं ततः कार्यं पीते शुक्लेऽपि वाससी । नवग्रहाणामारंभं शांतिकं विधिपूर्वकम्
One seeking their own welfare should not act deceitfully with wealth; then, a pair of garments should be prepared, either yellow or white; and the ritual for pacifying the nine planets should be begun according to the proper method.
श्रपयित्वा चरुं तत्र वैष्णवं होममाचरेत् । द्वादश्यां देवदेवेशं पूजयित्वा प्रयत्नतः
After preparing the sacred offering, he should perform a Vaishnava fire ritual there; on the twelfth day, he should worship the Lord of gods with care.
अव्रणं शुद्धकलशं स्थापयेद्विधिपूर्वकम् । पंचरत्नसमोपेतं पल्लवैश्चोषधीयुतम्
He should establish a flawless, pure vessel according to the prescribed method, adorned with five kinds of gems and filled with shoots and herbs.
तस्योपरिन्यसेत्पात्रे लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् । स्थापयेत्तुलसीमूले मंत्रैर्वेदपुराणकैः
Upon that vessel, he should place Janardana with Lakshmi; he should install it at the root of the Tulasi plant with mantras from the Vedas and Puranas.
पयसा केवलेनैव सिंचयेत्तुलसीवनम् । पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम्
He should sprinkle the Tulasi grove with only milk; after bathing the Lord of gods, the teacher of the world, with the five nectars—
योऽनंतरूपोऽखिलविश्वरूपो गर्भोदके लोकविधिं बिभर्त्ति । प्रसीदतामेष सदेव देवो यो मायया विश्वकृदेष देवी
He who is without inner form, who is the form of the entire universe, who sustains the order of the worlds in the cosmic waters—may this eternal God be gracious, he who, through his power, creates all, and she who is the goddess, the maker of the universe.
प्रार्थनामंत्रः । आगच्छाच्युत देवेश तेजोराशे जगत्पते । सदैव तिमिरध्वंसी पाहि मां भवसागरात्
Prayer mantra: Come, O Achyuta, Lord of gods, radiant source, master of the world; ever destroyer of darkness, protect me from the ocean of existence.
आवाहनमंत्रः । पंचामृतेन सुस्नानं तथा गंधोदकेन च । गंगादीनां च तोयेन स्नातोऽनंतःप्रसीदतु
Invocation mantra: Bathed with the five nectars and scented water, and with the waters of the Ganges and other rivers, may Ananta be pleased.
स्नानमंत्रः । श्रीखंडागुरुकर्पूरं कुंकुमादिविलेपनम् । भक्त्या दत्तं मया देव लक्ष्म्या सह गृहाण वै
Bathing mantra: Sandalwood, aloe, camphor, and ointments like saffron—offered by me with devotion, O Lord, together with Lakshmi, please accept.
विलेपनमंत्रः । नारायण नमस्तेऽस्तु नरकार्णवतारण । त्रैलोक्याधिपते तुभ्यं ददामि वसने शुभे
Anointing mantra: O Narayana, salutations to you, rescuer from the ocean of hell; Lord of the three worlds, to you I offer this auspicious garment.
वस्त्रमंत्रः । दामोदर नमस्तेस्तु त्राहि मां भवसागरात् । ब्रह्मसूत्रं मया दत्तं गृहाण पुरुषोत्तम
Garment mantra: O Damodara, salutations to you; save me from the ocean of existence. The sacred thread, given by me, please accept, O Supreme Person.
उपवीतमंत्रः । पुष्पाणि च सुगंधीनि मालत्यादीनि वै प्रभो । मया दत्तानि देवेश प्रीतितः प्रतिगृह्यताम्
Sacred thread mantra: Flowers fragrant, jasmine and others, O Lord, offered by me—O Lord of gods, kindly accept them with delight.
पुष्पमंत्रः । नैवेद्यं गृह्यतां नाथ भक्ष्यभोज्यैः समन्वितम् । सर्वै रसैः सुसंपन्नं गृहाण परमेश्वर
Flower mantra: Please accept the offering, O Master, accompanied by foods to eat and enjoy, prepared with all flavors, O Supreme Lord, receive it.
नैवेद्यमंत्रः । पूगानि नागपत्राणि कर्पूरसहितानि च । मया दत्तानि देवेश तांबूलं प्रतिगृह्यताम्
Offering mantra: Areca nuts, betel leaves, and camphor—these, O Lord of gods, offered by me, please accept as betel.
तांबूलमंत्रः । धूपं दत्वा गुरुं भक्त्या गुग्गुलं घृतमिश्रितम् । एवं पूजा प्रकर्त्तव्या घृतेन दीपमाचरेत्
Betel mantra: Incense given with reverence, guggul mixed with clarified butter—thus should worship be performed, and a lamp lit with ghee.
विविधं मुनिशार्दूल दीपं कृत्वा समाहितः । लक्ष्मीनारायणस्याग्रे तुलसीवनसन्निधौ
O best of sages, having made various lamps with concentration, before Lakshmi-Narayana, in the presence of the grove of tulasi.
अर्घं तत्र प्रदातव्यं देवदेवाय चक्रिणे । नवम्यां नालिकेरेण पुत्रार्थमर्घमुत्तमम्
There, one should offer argha to the Lord of gods, the wielder of the discus; on the ninth day, with coconut, the best argha for the sake of sons.