सर्वपापहरं नित्यं कामदं तुलसीवनम् 2.4.23.
The Tulasī grove always removes all sins and grants desires.
दर्शनं नर्मदायास्तु गंगास्नानं तथैव च
The sight of the Narmadā, and likewise bathing in the Gaṅgā,
रोपणात्पालनात्सेकाद्दर्शनात्स्पर्शनान्नृणाम्
By planting, caring for, watering, seeing, and touching it,
तुलसीमंजरीभिर्यः कुर्याद्धरिहराऽर्चनम्
Whoever worships Hari and Hara with Tulasī flowers,
पुष्कराद्यानि तीर्थानि गंगाद्याः सरितस्तथा
The holy places like Puṣkara and the rivers like Gaṅgā,
तुलसीमंजरीयुक्तो यस्तु प्राणान्विमुंचति
Whoever departs this life adorned with Tulasī flowers,
विष्णोः सायुज्यमाप्नोति सत्यं सत्यं नृपोत्तम
Attains union with Viṣṇu—this is true, true, O best of kings.
तद्देहं न स्पृशेत्पापं क्रियमाणमपीह यत्
Sin does not touch that body, even if committed here.
तत्र श्राद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्
There, one should perform śrāddha for the ancestors; the offering becomes imperishable.
जलैः स्नाति नरस्तस्य गंगास्नानफलं स्मृतम्
When a man bathes there with water, it is regarded as equal to bathing in the Gaṅgā.
सुवर्णमणिमुक्तौघैरर्चनस्याप्नुयात्फलम् ।। 2.4.23.
He attains the fruit of worship with heaps of gold, jewels, and pearls.
नित्यं धात्रीं समाश्रित्य तिष्ठंत्यर्के तुलास्थिते
Always relying on the dhātrī tree, they remain when the sun is in Libra.
लुनाति स नरो गच्छेन्निरयानतिगर्हितान् न समर्थो भवेद्वक्तुं यथा देवस्य शार्ङ्गिणः
If a man cuts it, he goes to hell, most condemned; he is not able to speak as the god Śārṅgin does.
धात्रीतुलस्युद्भवकारणं यः शृणोति यः श्रावयते च भक्त्या
Whoever hears or devoutly causes others to hear the origin of dhātrī and tulasī,
तत्पुनर्ब्रूहि माहात्म्यं केन चीर्णमिदं शुभम्
Now tell me again, by whom was this auspicious act performed, and what is its greatness?
ब्राह्मणो धर्मवित्कश्चिद्धर्मदत्तेति विश्रुतः
There was a certain Brahmin, known as Dharmadatta, who was learned in righteousness.
विष्णुव्रतकरः सम्यग्विष्णुपूजारतः सदा
He faithfully observed vows dedicated to Vishnu and was always devoted to Vishnu's worship.
रात्र्यां तुर्यावशेषायां जगाम हरिमन्दिरम्
During the last quarter of the night, he went to the temple of Hari.
तेन दृष्टा समायाता राक्षसी भीमदर्शना
There, he saw a rakshasi approaching, terrifying in appearance.
पूजोपकरणैः सर्वैः पयोभिश्चाहनद्भयात् तेन वै हतमात्रे तु पापं तस्या ह्यगाल्लयम्
Out of fear, he struck her with all the worship materials and with water; at the moment she was killed, her sin departed.
अथ संस्मृत्य सा पूर्वजन्मकर्मविपाकजाम्
Then she remembered the consequences of actions from her previous birth.
तत्कथं नु पुनर्विप्र प्रयास्याम्युत्तमां गतिम्
How, O Brahmin, can I now attain the highest state again?
अतीव विस्मितो विप्रस्तदा वचनमब्रवीत्
The Brahmin was greatly astonished and then spoke these words.
धर्मदत्त उवाच केन कर्मविपाकेन त्वं दशामीदृशीं गता 2.4.24.
Dharmadatta said: By what result of actions have you come to such a condition?
तस्याहं गृहिणी पूर्वं कलहाख्याऽतिनिष्ठुरा
She said: Formerly, I was a housewife named Kalahā, exceedingly harsh.
न कदाचिन्मया भर्तुर्वचसाऽपि शुभं कृतम्
Never did I perform any good act, even in word, for my husband.
कलहप्रियया नित्यं मयोद्विग्नमना यदा
Being always fond of quarrels, I constantly disturbed his mind.
ततो गरं समादाय प्राणास्त्यक्ता मया द्विज
Then, taking poison, I ended my life, O Brahmin.
यमश्च मां तदा दृष्ट्वा चित्रगुप्तमपृच्छत
Yama, seeing me at that time, questioned Citragupta.
प्राप्नोत्वेषा च तत्कर्म शुभं वा यदि वाऽशुभम्
Let her receive the result of her actions, whether auspicious or inauspicious.