तत्रतत्र रतिं कुर्यान्नांधकारे कदाचन 2.4.7.
One should never take pleasure anywhere in darkness.
यः कुर्यात्कार्तिके विष्णोः पुरः कर्पूरदीपकम् 2.4.7.
Whoever, in the month of Kārtika, offers a camphor lamp before Viṣṇu—
गोपः कश्चिदमावास्यां दीपं प्रज्वाल्य शार्ङ्गिणः
If a cowherd, on the new moon day, lights a lamp for the wielder of Śārṅga—
त्वद्वागमृतपानेन तृषा भूयः प्रवर्धते
By drinking the nectar of your words, my thirst only increases further.
देवं दामोदरं पूज्य कोमलैस्तुलसीदलैः
One should worship the god Dāmodara with tender leaves of tulasī.
भक्त्या विरहितो यस्तु सुवर्णादिभिरर्चयेत्
He who worships with gold and other offerings but is devoid of devotion—
सर्वेषामपि वर्णानां भक्तिरेषा परा स्मृता
Among all classes, this devotion is regarded as supreme.
भक्त्या संपूजितो नित्यं तुलस्यास्तु दलार्धतः
He who is always worshipped with devotion, even with half a leaf of tulasī—
विष्णुदासः पुरा भक्त्या तुलसीपूजनेन च
Once, by devotion and by worship of tulasī, a servant of Viṣṇu—
तुलस्याः शृणु माहात्म्यं पापघ्नं पुण्यवर्द्धनम्
Hear the greatness of tulasī, O sin-destroying, merit-increasing one.
संप्राप्ते कार्तिके मासि तुलस्याः पूजनं हरेः
When the month of Kārtika arrives, one should worship Hari with tulasī.
तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तुलस्याः कोमलैर्दलैः
Therefore, with all effort, one should worship with tender leaves of tulasī.
रोपिता तुलसी यावत्कुरुते मूलविस्तरम् 2.4.8.
As long as the planted tulasī spreads its roots—
तुलसीपत्रसंयुक्तजले स्नानं चरेद्यदि
If one bathes with water mixed with tulasī leaves—
वृन्दावनं च कुरुते रोपणार्थं महामुने
And he establishes a grove of tulasī for the purpose of planting, O great sage—
तुलसीकाननं ब्रह्मन्गृहे यस्याऽवतिष्ठते
O Brāhmaṇa, in whose house a grove of tulasī stands—
सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं कामदं तुलसीवनम्
The grove of tulasi removes all sin, brings merit, and fulfills desires.
तुलसीकाष्ठसंयुक्तं गन्धं यो धारयेन्नरः
Whoever wears fragrance mixed with tulasi wood, O man,
तुलसीविपिनच्छाया यत्र चैव भवेद्द्विज
Wherever there is the shade of a tulasi thicket, O twice-born,
यत्कृते तुलसीपत्रं कर्णे शिरसि दृश्यते
For whose sake a tulasi leaf is seen on the ear or head,
तुलस्या महिमां यस्तु शृणुयान्नित्यमादृतः
Whoever listens with reverence daily to the glory of tulasi,
अत्रैवोदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम्
Here I shall recount an ancient legend as an example.
पुरा काश्मीरदेशे तु ब्राह्मणौ संबभूवतुः 2.4.8.
Long ago, in the land of Kashmir, two brahmins were born.
सर्वभूतदयायुक्तौ सर्वतत्त्वार्थवेदिनौ
They were endowed with compassion for all beings and knew the meaning of all truths.
गच्छतावेकतो विप्रौ कांतारे श्रमविह्वलौ
As the two brahmins traveled together, exhausted in the wilderness,
तयोः सुमेधास्तद्दृष्ट्वा तुलसीकाननं महत्
Sumedhas, seeing that great tulasi forest,
दृष्ट्वैतद्धरिमेधास्तु उवाच परया मुदा
Having seen it, Harimedhas spoke with supreme joy.
हरिमेधा उवाच किमर्थं विप्र देवेषु तीर्थेषु च व्रतेषु च
Harimedhas said: For what reason, O brahmin, among gods, sacred places, and vows,
आतपो बाधते ह्यावां गत्वैतद्वटसन्निधौ
The heat afflicts us; let us go to the shade of that banyan tree.
तस्यच्छायां समाश्रित्य वक्ष्यामि ते यथार्थतः
Taking shelter in its shade, I will tell you the truth as it is.