तेनाऽहं प्रष्टुमिच्छामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम्
Therefore, I wish to ask about the greatness and origin of Tulasī.
कथमेषा समुत्पन्ना कस्मिन्स्थाने च नारद
How did she arise, and in what place, O Nārada?
सेतिहासं पुरावृत्तं तत्सर्वं कथयामि ते
I will tell you all that ancient story as it happened.
पुरा शक्रः शिवं द्रष्टुमगात्कैलासपर्वतम्
Long ago, Indra went to Mount Kailāsa to see Śiva.
यावद्गतः शिवगृहं तावत्तत्र स दृष्टवान्
When he reached Śiva’s abode, there he saw—
स पृष्टस्तेन कस्त्वं भोः क्व गतो जगदीश्वरः
He was asked by him: 'Who are you, O sir, and where has the Lord of the universe gone?'
ततः कुद्धो वज्रपाणिस्तं निर्भर्त्स्य वचोऽब्रवीत्
Then, enraged, the wielder of the thunderbolt rebuked him and spoke these words:
अतस्त्वां हन्मि वज्रेण कस्ते त्राताऽस्ति दुर्मते
Therefore, I will strike you with the thunderbolt—who is there to save you, wicked-minded one?
तेनास्य कण्ठो नीलत्वमगाद्वज्रं च भस्मताम् 2.4.14.
Because of this, his throat turned blue and the thunderbolt was reduced to ashes.
दृष्ट्वा बृहस्पतिस्तूर्णं कृतांजलिपुटोऽभवत्
Seeing this, Bṛhaspati immediately joined his palms in reverence.
त्रिपुरघ्नाय शर्वाय नमोऽधंकनिषूदिने
Salutations to Śarva, the destroyer of Tripura, the subduer of the arrogant.
विरूपायाऽतिरूपाय बहुरूपाय शंभवे
To the deformed and the supremely beautiful, to the one of many forms, to Śambhu, I bow.
कालांतकाय कालाय कालभोगिधराय च
To the ender of Time, to Time itself, to the bearer of the serpent of Time, I offer my respects.
संहरन्नयनज्वालां त्रिलोकीदहन क्षमाम्
Whose eye emits a consuming flame, who is able to burn the three worlds, I salute.
वरं वरय भो ब्रह्मन्प्रीतः स्तुत्याऽनया तव
Choose a boon, O Brahmin; pleased by your praise, I grant you a wish.
अग्निरेष शमं यातु भालनेत्रसमुद्भवः
May this fire, born from the eye in your forehead, be pacified.
ईश्वर उवाच पुनः प्रवेशमायाति भालनेत्रे कथं शिखी
The Lord said: How can the fire that emerged from the forehead-eye return again?
सोऽपतत्सिंधुगंगायाः सागरस्य च संगमे
It fell at the confluence of the Sindhu and Gaṅgā rivers and the ocean.
तावत्स बालरूपत्वमगात्तत्र रुरोद च 2.4.14.
There, it assumed the form of a child and began to cry.
स्वर्गाद्याः सत्यलोकांतास्तत्स्वनाद्बधिरीकृताः
All the worlds, from heaven up to Satyaloka, were deafened by its wailing.
तावत्समुद्रस्योत्संगे तं बालं स ददर्श ह
Then, at the shore of the ocean, he saw that child.
प्रणम्य शिरसा बालं तस्योत्संगे न्यवेशयत् जातकर्माऽऽदिसंस्कारान्कुरुष्वाऽद्य जगद्गुरो
Bowing his head to the child, he placed him on his lap: 'Perform the birth-rites and other sacraments today, O Teacher of the world.'
ब्रह्माणमग्रहीत्कूर्चे विधुन्वंस्तं मुहुर्मुहुः कथंचिन्मुक्तकूर्चोऽथ ब्रह्मा प्रोवाच सागरम्
He seized Brahmā by the tuft, shaking him again and again; somehow freed, Brahmā then spoke to the ocean.
तस्माज्जलंधर इति ख्यातो नाम्ना भविष्यति
Therefore, he will be known by the name Jalandhara.
अनेनैवैष तरुणः सर्वशस्त्रास्त्रपारगः
By this very means, this youth has become accomplished in all weapons and missiles.
यत एष समुद्भूतस्तत्रैवांतं गमिष्यति
Since he has arisen from there, he will also reach his end there.
आमंत्र्य सरितां नाथं ब्रह्मांतर्धानमागमत्
Having taken leave of the Lord of Rivers, Brahma then disappeared.
अथ तद्दर्शनोत्फुल्लनयनः सागरस्तदा 2.4.14.
Then, at that time, the ocean, his eyes blossoming from that vision—
ते कालनेमिप्रमुखास्ततोऽसुरास्तस्मै सुतां तां प्रददुः प्रहर्षिताः
Then those Asuras, headed by Kalanemi, joyfully gave him that daughter.
तेऽपि भूमंडलं याता निर्भयास्तमुपाश्रिताः
They too, fearless, went to the earth and took refuge with him.