नित्यं गृह्णाति विप्रेंद्र यो धात्रीफलकर्द्दमम् । दिने दिने लभेत्पुण्यं संप्राप्नोति न संशयः
Whoever daily takes the pulp of dhātrī fruit, O chief of Brahmins, obtains merit day by day—there is no doubt.
धात्रीतरुं च यो हंति सर्वदेवगणाश्रयम् । स ददाति हरेरंगे घातं नास्त्यत्र संशयः
Whoever destroys the dhātrī tree, which is the abode of all the hosts of gods, inflicts harm upon Hari—there is no doubt about this.
सर्वदेवमयी धात्री विशेषात्केशवप्रिया । सम्यग्वक्तुं गुणं तस्या ब्रह्मणापि न शक्यते
The dhātrī is composed of all the gods, and especially dear to Keśava; even Brahmā cannot properly describe its qualities.
धात्र्यास्तुलस्या विदधाति भक्तिं यो मानवो ज्ञातसमस्ततत्वः । भुक्त्वा च भोगान्सकलां स्ततोंऽते स मुक्तिमाप्नोति हरेः प्रसादात्
He who, knowing all truths, shows devotion to dhātrī and tulasī, and after enjoying all pleasures, attains liberation by Hari's grace.
जैमिनिरुवाच- भूय एव महाभाग तुलस्याः पापनाशनम् । अतिथेः पूजनस्यापि माहात्म्यं ब्रूहि विस्तरात्
Jaimini said: Again, O greatly fortunate one, tell in detail the sin-destroying power of tulasī, and also the greatness of honoring guests.
सूत उवाच- ततो व्यासो महातेजास्तुलस्या द्विजसत्तम । माहात्म्यं वक्तुमारेभे शृण्वतां पापनाशनम्
Sūta said: Then Vyāsa, of great splendor, began to speak to the best of Brahmins about the greatness of tulasī, which destroys sin, as they listened.
व्यास उवाच- इयं साक्षान्महालक्ष्मीस्तुलसी भगवत्प्रिया । तस्मादिमां न पश्यंति वृक्षज्ञानेन जैमिने
Vyāsa said: This tulasī is directly Mahālakṣmī, beloved of the Lord; therefore, Jaimini, do not regard her merely as a tree by knowledge of trees.
सदैव तुलसीं मर्त्यो यथैव भुवि सेवते । तथैव सेन्द्रा विबुधाः सेवंते तं सुरालये
Just as a mortal serves tulasī on earth, so too the gods with Indra serve him in the abode of the gods.
परब्रह्मस्वरूपेयं तुलसी यत्र तिष्ठति । तत्रैव कुशलं सर्वं सुदृढं प्रोच्यते मया
Where tulasī stands, she is the embodiment of the Supreme Brahman; there, all welfare is firmly declared by me.
प्राप्नोति मृत्युकाले यस्तोयं पातकवानपि । तुलसीपत्रगलितं स याति हरिसन्निधिम्
Even a sinner who receives water at the time of death, poured over tulasī leaves, attains the presence of Hari.
तुलसीमृत्तिकापुण्ड्रं यो मृत्युसमये वहेत् । स मुक्तः सकलैः पापैः पुरं गच्छति चक्रिणः
Whoever bears the mark of tulasī clay at the time of death is freed from all sins and goes to the city of the wielder of the discus.
यस्य स्यात्तुलसीपत्रं मुखे शिरसि कर्णयोः । मृत्युकाले द्विजश्रेष्ठ तस्य स्वामी न भास्करिः
O best of Brahmins, at the time of death, whoever has tulasī leaves in his mouth, on his head, or on his ears, his master is not the sun.
पवित्रनामा सुमतिर्बभूव परमार्थवित् । बभूव ब्राह्मणी तस्य बहुला नाम धारिणी
A wise man named Pavitra, knower of the highest truth, was born; his wife was a Brahmin woman named Bahulā.
सद्वंशप्रभवा साध्वी पतिसेवापरायणा । अनपत्यपतिर्नाम तत्रैकोस्ति द्विजोत्तमः
She was a virtuous woman, descended from a noble lineage, devoted to serving her husband; among them was a Brahmin named Anapatyapati.
सख्यं तेन पवित्रोऽसौ चकार द्विजसेविना । ततोऽनपत्यपतिना कथालोभेन सत्तमः
He formed a friendship with him, who was pure and devoted to serving Brahmins; then, being childless and without a wife, the excellent one was drawn by the desire for stories.
उपविष्टः पवित्रोऽसौ स्नेहादेकवरासने । तत्रांतरे महातेजा लोमशो नाम स द्विजः
That pure one, out of affection, sat down on a single seat; in that moment, the great and radiant sage named Lomaśa, a Brahmin, was present.
कथयंतौ कथाश्चित्राः समागत्य ददर्श तौ । अथ तं लोमशं विप्रं विप्रावुत्थाय पीठतः
As the two were conversing and sharing wondrous tales, they saw him approach; then, rising from their seat, the two Brahmins greeted Lomaśa.
पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयाद्यैः पूजयामासतुश्च तौ । सुप्रीतो लोमशस्ताभ्यां नारायणपरायणः
The two honored him with offerings of water for the feet, arghya, and for sipping, and other rites; Lomaśa, devoted to Nārāyaṇa, was greatly pleased with them.
उवास ब्राह्मणश्रेष्ठ आसने कीर्तयन्हरिम् । आसनस्थं महात्मानं लोमशं तं कृताञ्जलिम्
The foremost Brahmin remained seated, praising Hari; those two, with joined palms, approached the great-souled Lomaśa who was seated.
पवित्रानापत्यमुनी भक्त्या प्राहतुर्लोमशम् । भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ त्वत्पादयुगलैर्नृभिः
The childless sage Pavitra, with devotion, addressed Lomaśa: 'O revered one, knower of all dharma, by the sight of your pair of feet—'
सद्भिर्ग्राह्यैराश्रमोऽयं पूतोऽभून्नूनमावयोः । कृतानि यानि पापानि आवाभ्यां मोहतः पुरा
'This hermitage has surely been purified for us by the presence of the noble, worthy ones; whatever sins we committed in ignorance before—'
तानि सर्वाणि नष्टानि त्वत्पादयुगदर्शनात् । भवान्नारायणः साक्षात्पूजनीयोऽमरैरपि
'All those have been destroyed by the sight of your pair of feet; you, Nārāyaṇa himself, are worthy of worship even by the immortals.'
सम्यक्ते पूजनं कर्तुं किमावां मानुषौ क्षमौ । अतिथेर्या कृता पूजा तेऽस्माभिर्निजशक्तितः
'How can we, mere mortals on earth, properly perform your worship? The hospitality we have offered you has been according to our own ability.'
अनया भव सुप्रीतः क्षमस्व दोषमावयोः । इत्युक्त्वा तौ महात्मानौ तस्यागंतोः पदद्वये । निपेततुर्द्विजश्रेष्ठ वयस्यौ गृहमेधिनौ
'By this, be greatly pleased and forgive our faults.' Having spoken thus, those two great souls, householders and friends, prostrated themselves at the feet of the best of Brahmins.
व्यास उवाच- ततो भक्त्या सुसंतुष्टो लोमशो विदुषांवरः । युवां विनयिनां श्रेष्ठौ द्विजाग्र्यौ धर्मतत्परौ
Vyāsa said: Then, Lomaśa, the best among the learned, was deeply satisfied by their devotion; you two are the foremost among the humble, eminent Brahmins, devoted to dharma.
आप्यायितोऽस्मि सुतरां युवयोर्विनयोक्तिभिः । साक्षाद्ब्रह्मा शिवो विष्णुरतिथिः प्रोच्यते बुधैः
'I have been greatly nourished by your humble words; the wise declare that Brahmā, Śiva, and Viṣṇu are present as guests.'
तस्मिन्नेतावतीभक्तिर्युवयोरस्तु मङ्गलम् । आराधितोऽस्म्यहंसम्यगतिथिर्भूरिभोजनैः
'May such devotion as yours always bring auspiciousness; I have been properly honored as a guest with abundant food.'
व्यास उवाच- तत उत्थाय तौ विप्रौ तत्पादकमलद्वये । भूयोऽपि तं नमस्कृत्य प्राहतुर्लोमशं मुनिम्
Vyāsa said: Then, rising, the two Brahmins again bowed at his lotus feet, and once more addressed the sage Lomaśa.
ब्राह्मणावूचतुः ब्रह्मन्नतिथिपूजाया माहात्म्यं वक्तुमर्हसि । यां कृत्वा प्राप्यते मुक्तिर्दुःखलभ्यापि मानवैः
The Brahmins said: 'O sage, you should speak on the greatness of hospitality, by which liberation is attained even by those who suffer.'
कोऽतिथिः प्रोच्यते लोके तस्य पूजा च कीदृशी । आतिथेयोऽतिथिश्चेमौ लभेते कामुभौ गतिम्
'Who is called a guest in the world, and what kind of worship is appropriate for him? Both the host and the guest attain their desired goal.'