Adhyaya 61

Verse 1

। द्विजाऊचुः । तुलसीपुष्पमाहात्म्यं श्रुतं त्वत्तो हरेः शुभम् । तस्या स्तोत्रं कृतं पुण्यं श्रोतुमिच्छामहे वयम्

The brāhmaṇas said: “O Hari, from you we have heard the auspicious greatness of the tulasī flower. Now we wish to hear the meritorious hymn (stotra) composed in her praise.”

Verse 2

व्यास उवाच । पुरा स्कंदपुराणे च यन्मया कीर्तितं द्विजाः । कथयामि पुराणं च पुरतो मोक्षहेतवे

Vyāsa said: “O twice-born ones, what I formerly proclaimed in the Skanda Purāṇa—I shall now relate that Purāṇa again here before you, as a cause of liberation.”

Verse 3

शतानंद मुनेः शिष्याः सर्वे ते संशितव्रताः । प्रणिपत्य गुरुं विप्राः पप्रच्छुः पुण्यतो हितम्

All the disciples of the sage Śatānanda—each steadfast in vowed discipline—bowed down to their teacher; then those brāhmaṇas asked him about what is meritorious and beneficial.

Verse 4

पूर्वं ब्रह्ममुखान्नाथ यच्छ्रुतं तुलसीस्तवम् । तद्वयं श्रोतुमिच्छामस्त्वत्तो ब्रह्मविदांवर

O Lord, the hymn in praise of Tulasī once heard from the mouth of Brahmā—we now wish to hear that very hymn from you, O best among the knowers of Brahman.

Verse 5

शतानंद उवाच । नामोच्चारे कृते तस्याः प्रीणात्यसुरदर्पहा । पापानि विलयं यांति पुण्यं भवति चाक्षयम्

Śatānanda said: When her name is uttered, the destroyer of the demons’ pride is pleased; sins melt away, and merit becomes imperishable.

Verse 6

सा कथं तुलसी लोकैः पूज्यते वंद्यते नहि । दर्शनादेव यस्यास्तु दानं कोटिगवां भवेत्

How could Tulasī not be worshiped and revered by people—she whose mere sight bestows merit equal to the gift of ten million cows?

Verse 7

धन्यास्ते मानवा लोके यद्गृहे विद्यते कलौ । सालग्रामशिलार्थं तु तुलसी प्रत्यहं क्षितौ

Blessed indeed are those people in the world—in this age of Kali—in whose homes there is, each day upon the earth, tulasī meant for the worship of the Śālagrāma stone.

Verse 8

तुलसीं ये विचिन्वंति धन्यास्ते करपल्लवाः । केशवार्थं कलौ ये च रोपयंतीह भूतले

Blessed are those hands—like tender sprouts—that gather Tulasī; and blessed too are those who, in the age of Kali, plant Tulasī here upon the earth for the sake of Keśava (Viṣṇu).

Verse 9

किं करिष्यति संरुष्टो यमोपि सह किंकरैः । तुलसीदलेन देवेशः पूजितो येन दुःखहा

What can even Yama do, though enraged, together with his attendants, against one who has worshipped the Lord of the gods—the remover of sorrow—with a tulasī leaf?

Verse 10

तीर्थयात्रादिगमनैः फलैः सिध्यति किन्नरः । स्नाने दाने तथा ध्याने प्राशने केशवार्चने

By pilgrimages and similar journeys, and by the merits that arise from them, even a kinnara attains spiritual fulfillment—through sacred bathing, charitable giving, meditation, partaking of consecrated food, and the worship of Keśava (Viṣṇu).

Verse 11

तुलसी दहते पापं कीर्तने रोपणे कलौ । तुलस्यमृतजन्मासि सदा त्वं केशवप्रिये

O Tulasī, in the age of Kali you burn away sin through your praise and through your planting. Born from amṛta, you are forever dear to Keśava (Viṣṇu).

Verse 12

केशवार्थं चिनोमि त्वां वरदा भव शोभने । त्वदंगसंभवैर्नित्यं पूजयामि यथाहरिम्

I gather you for the sake of Keśava; be a bestower of boons, O beautiful one. With what arises from your own body, I continually worship Hari, as is proper.

Verse 13

तथा कुरु पवित्रांगि कलौ मलविनाशिनि । मंत्रेणानेन यः कुर्याद्विचित्य तुलसीदलम्

“Do so, O pure-limbed one—O destroyer of impurity in the age of Kali. Whoever, with this mantra, carefully selects and offers a tulasī leaf…”

Verse 14

पूजनं वासुदेवस्य लक्षकोटिगुणं भवेत् । प्रभावं तव देवेशि गायंति सुरसत्तमाः

Worship of Vāsudeva yields merit multiplied by hundreds of thousands and by crores. O Devī, the foremost of the gods sing of your wondrous power.

Verse 15

मुनयः सिद्धगंधर्वाः पाताले नागराट्स्वयम् । न ते प्रभावं जानंति देवताः केशवादृते

Sages, Siddhas, and Gandharvas—even the serpent-king himself in Pātāla—do not know His true power; nor do the gods, except Keśava.

Verse 16

गुणानां परिमाणं तु कल्पकोटिशतैरपि । कृष्णानंदात्समुद्भूता क्षीरोदमथनोद्यमे

Even with hundreds of crores of kalpas, the full measure of those qualities cannot be exhausted; they arose from Kṛṣṇa’s bliss at the undertaking of churning the Milk Ocean.

Verse 17

उत्तमांगे पुरा येन तुलसी विष्णुना धृता । प्राप्यैतानि त्वया देवि विष्णोरंगानि सर्वशः

O Devī, since Tulasī was once placed upon the head of Viṣṇu, by obtaining her you have, in every way, attained all the limbs of Viṣṇu—that is, His full grace.

Verse 18

पवित्रता त्वया प्राप्ता तुलसीं त्वां नमाम्यहम् । त्वदंगसंभवैः पत्रैः पूजयामि यथा हरिम्

O Tulasī, through you holiness is attained; I bow to you. With leaves that have arisen from your own limbs, I worship Hari as is proper.

Verse 19

तथा कुरुष्व मेऽविघ्नं यतो यामि परां गतिम् । रोपिता गोमतीतीरे स्वयं कृष्णेन पालिता

So act that no obstacle may befall me, that I may attain the supreme state. (This sacred plant/tree) was planted on the bank of the Gomati and was nurtured by Kṛṣṇa himself.

Verse 20

जगद्धिताय तुलसी गोपीनां हितहेतवे । वृंदावने विचरता सेविता विष्णुना स्वयम्

For the welfare of the world and for the benefit of the gopīs, Tulasī—wandering in Vṛndāvana—is herself served by Viṣṇu.

Verse 21

गोकुलस्य विवृद्ध्यर्थं कंसस्य निधनाय च । वसिष्ठवचनात्पूर्वं रामेण सरयूतटे

For the prosperity of Gokula and for the destruction of Kaṁsa, earlier—at Vasiṣṭha’s instruction—Rāma performed (the rites) on the bank of the river Sarayū.

Verse 22

राक्षसानां वधार्थाय रोपिता त्वं जगत्प्रिये । रोपिता तपसो वृद्ध्यै तुलसीं त्वां नमाम्यहम्

O beloved of the world, you were planted for the slaying of the rākṣasas; you were planted to increase tapas, sacred austerity. O Tulasī, I bow to you.

Verse 23

वियोगे वासुदेवस्य ध्यात्वा त्वां जनकात्मजा । अशोकवनमध्ये तु प्रियेण सह संगता

In separation from Vāsudeva, Janaka’s daughter (Sītā) meditated upon you; and in the midst of the Aśoka grove she was reunited with her beloved.

Verse 24

शङ्करार्थं पुरा देवि पार्वत्या त्वं हिमालये । रोपिता तपसो वृद्ध्यै तुलसीं त्वां नमाम्यहम्

O Goddess, long ago in the Himalaya you were planted by Pārvatī for Śaṅkara’s sake, to increase the power of austerities. O Tulasī, I bow to you.

Verse 25

सर्वाभिर्देवपत्नीभिः किन्नरैश्चापि नंदने । दुःस्वप्ननाशनार्थाय सेविता त्वं नमोस्तु ते

In Nandana, the celestial garden, you are worshipped by all the wives of the gods and by the Kinnaras as well, to destroy evil dreams. Salutations to you.

Verse 26

धर्मारण्ये गयायां च सेविता पितृभिः स्वयम् । सेविता तुलसी पुण्या आत्मनो हितमिच्छता

In Dharmāraṇya and at Gayā, you are worshipped by the Pitṛs themselves. The sacred Tulasī should be worshipped by one who seeks one’s own welfare.

Verse 27

रोपिता रामचंद्रेण सेविता लक्ष्मणेन च । पालिता सीतया भक्त्या तुलसी दंडके वने

In the Daṇḍaka forest, Tulasī was planted by Rāmacandra, served by Lakṣmaṇa, and lovingly tended with devotion by Sītā.

Verse 28

त्रैलोक्यव्यापिनी गंगा यथा शास्त्रेषु गीयते । तथैव तुलसी देवी दृश्यते सचराचरे

Just as the Gaṅgā is praised in the scriptures as pervading the three worlds, so too is the goddess Tulasī seen throughout the whole of creation, moving and unmoving.

Verse 29

ऋश्यमूके च वसता कपिराजेन सेविता । तुलसी वालिनाशाय तारासंगम हेतवे

Dwelling on Ṛśyamūka, she was attended by the lord of monkeys; she was there for the destruction of Vāli and as the cause of Tārā’s union (with another).

Verse 30

प्रणम्य तुलसीदेवीं सागरोत्क्रमणं कृतम् । कृतकार्यः प्रहृष्टश्च हनूमान्पुनरागतः

Having bowed to Goddess Tulasī, the crossing of the ocean was accomplished. Hanumān, his mission fulfilled and filled with joy, returned again.

Verse 31

तुलसीग्रहणं कृत्वा विमुक्तो याति पातकैः । अथवा मुनिशार्दूल ब्रह्महत्यां व्यपोहति

Having taken (accepted) Tulasī, one goes forth freed from sins; or else, O tiger among sages, it even removes the sin of brahmahatyā (brahmin-slaying).

Verse 32

तुलसीपत्रगलितं यस्तोयं शिरसा वहेत् । गंगास्नानमवाप्नोति दशधेनुफलप्रदम्

Whoever bears upon the head water that has flowed from tulasī leaves attains the merit of bathing in the Gaṅgā; it bestows the fruit equivalent to the gift of ten cows.

Verse 33

प्रसीद देवि देवेशि प्रसीद हरिवल्लभे । क्षीरोदमथनोद्भूते तुलसि त्वां नमाम्यहम्

Be gracious, O Goddess, O Sovereign of the gods; be gracious, O beloved of Hari. O Tulasī, born from the churning of the Ocean of Milk, I bow to you.

Verse 34

द्वादश्यां जागरे रात्रौ यः पठेत्तुलसीस्तवम् । द्वात्रिंशदपराधांश्च क्षमते तस्य केशवः

Whoever, on the night of Dvādaśī, keeps vigil and recites the hymn to Tulasī—Keśava forgives that person’s thirty-two offenses.

Verse 35

यत्पापं यौवने बाल्ये कौमारे वार्द्धके कृतम् । तत्सर्वं विलयं याति तुलसीस्तव पाठतः

Whatever sins have been committed in youth, in childhood, in adolescence, or in old age—all of them are dissolved by the recitation of the Tulasī hymn.

Verse 36

प्रीतिमायाति देवेशस्तुष्टो लक्ष्मीं प्रयच्छति । कुरुते शत्रुनाशं च सुखं विद्यां प्रयच्छति

Pleased, the Lord of the gods becomes gracious and bestows Lakṣmī, prosperity. He destroys enemies and grants happiness and knowledge.

Verse 37

तुलसीनाममात्रेण देवा यच्छंति वांछितम् । गर्ह्याणमपि देवेशो मुक्तिं यच्छति देहिनाम्

By the mere utterance of Tulasī’s name, the gods grant what is desired; and even to those who are blameworthy, the Lord of the gods bestows liberation (mokṣa) while they are embodied.

Verse 38

तुलसी स्तवसंतुष्टा सुखं वृद्धिं ददाति च । उद्गतं हेलया विद्धि पापं यमपथे स्थितम्

When Tulasī is pleased by praise, she grants happiness and prosperity. Know that sin—even committed through heedlessness—arises and stands upon the path that leads to Yama.

Verse 39

यस्मिन्गृहे च लिखितो विद्यते तुलसीस्तवः । नाशुभं विद्यते तस्य शुभमाप्नोति निश्चितम्

In the house where the written hymn in praise of Tulasī is kept, no inauspiciousness remains; that household surely attains auspiciousness.

Verse 40

सर्वं च मंगलं तस्य नास्ति किंचिदमंगलम् । सुभिक्षं सर्वदा तस्य धनं धान्यं च पुष्कलम्

For him, everything becomes auspicious; nothing at all is inauspicious. For him there is always abundance—prosperity, and plentiful wealth and grain.

Verse 41

निश्चला केशवे भक्तिर्न वियोगश्च वैष्णवैः । जीवति व्याधिनिर्मुक्तो नाधर्मे जायते मतिः

Steady devotion to Keśava arises, and there is no separation from the Vaiṣṇavas. One lives free from disease, and one’s mind does not incline toward unrighteousness.

Verse 42

द्वादश्यां जागरे रात्रौ यः पठेत्तुलसीस्तवम् । तीर्थकोटिसहस्रैस्तु यत्फलं लक्षकोटिभिः

Whoever recites the hymn to Tulasī on the night of the Dvādaśī vigil attains the merit whose fruit equals that of thousands of crores of sacred pilgrimages—indeed, of tens of millions of crores.

Verse 43

तत्फलं समवाप्नोति पठित्वा तुलसीस्तवम्

By reciting the hymn to Tulasī, one attains that very fruit—the promised spiritual merit and reward.

Verse 61

इति श्रीपाद्मपुराणे प्रथमे सृष्टिखंडे तुलसीस्तवमाहात्म्यं नामैकषष्टितमोऽध्यायः

Thus ends the sixty-first chapter, called “The Greatness of the Hymn to Tulasi,” in the First Book (Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa) of the revered Padma Purāṇa.