The Rite of Tulasi Worship

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.9.25.1)

नारद उवाच । तुलसी च यदा पूज्या कृता नारायणप्रिया । अस्याः पूजाविधानं च स्तोत्रं च वद साम्प्रतम्

nārada uvāca | tulasī ca yadā pūjyā kṛtā nārāyaṇapriyā | asyāḥ pūjāvidhānaṁ ca stotraṁ ca vada sāmpratam

Narada said: Since Tulasi, beloved of Narayana, has been made worthy of worship, now tell me her method of worship and her hymn of praise.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.9.25.2)

केन पूजा कृता केन स्तुता प्रथमतो मुने । तत्र पूज्या सा बभूव केन वा वद मामहो

kena pūjā kṛtā kena stutā prathamato mune | tatra pūjyā sā babhūva kena vā vada māmaho

By whom was she first worshipped, O sage, and by whom first praised? And by whom did she come to be worthy of worship — tell me this, O wondrous one.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.9.25.3)

सूत उवाच । नारदस्य वचः श्रुत्वा प्रहस्य मुनिपुङ्गवः । कथां कथितुमारेभे पुण्यां पापहरां पराम्

sūta uvāca | nāradasya vacaḥ śrutvā prahasya munipuṅgavaḥ | kathāṁ kathitumārebhe puṇyāṁ pāpaharāṁ parām

Suta said: Hearing Narada's words, that foremost of sages laughed, and began to tell the sacred tale, the destroyer of sin, most excellent.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.9.25.4)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । हरिः सम्पूज्य तुलसीं रेमे च रमया सह । रमासमानसौभाग्यां चकार गौरवेण च

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | hariḥ sampūjya tulasīṁ reme ca ramayā saha | ramāsamānasaubhāgyāṁ cakāra gauraveṇa ca

Sri Narayana said: Hari, having worshipped Tulasi, sported with Rama; and, with great honor, he made Tulasi equal in fortune to Rama herself.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.9.25.5)

सेहे च लक्ष्मीर्गङ्गा च तस्याश्च नवसङ्गमम् । सौभाग्यगौरवं कोपात्ते न सेहे सरस्वती

sehe ca lakṣmīrgaṅgā ca tasyāśca navasaṅgamam | saubhāgyagauravaṁ kopātte na sehe sarasvatī

Lakshmi and Ganga tolerated her fresh union with Hari; but Sarasvati, in anger, could not bear this honor and good fortune of hers.

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.9.25.6)

सा तां जघान कलहे मानिनी हरिसन्निधौ । व्रीडया चापमानेन सान्तर्धानं चकार ह

sā tāṁ jaghāna kalahe māninī harisannidhau | vrīḍayā cāpamānena sāntardhānaṁ cakāra ha

That proud Sarasvati struck her in a quarrel, in Hari's very presence; and Tulasi, out of shame and humiliation, vanished from sight.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.9.25.7)

सर्वसिद्धेश्वरी देवी ज्ञानिनां सिद्धियोगिनी । जगामादर्शनं कोपात्सर्वत्र च हरेरहो

sarvasiddheśvarī devī jñānināṁ siddhiyoginī | jagāmādarśanaṁ kopātsarvatra ca hareraho

That goddess, mistress of every accomplishment, the perfected yogini of the wise, in anger vanished everywhere from Hari's sight, alas!

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.9.25.8)

हरिर्न दृष्ट्वा तुलसीं बोधयित्वा सरस्वतीम् । तदनुज्ञां गहीत्वा च जगाम तुलसीवनम्

harirna dṛṣṭvā tulasīṁ bodhayitvā sarasvatīm | tadanujñāṁ gahītvā ca jagāma tulasīvanam

Hari, not finding Tulasi, consoled Sarasvati, and, having obtained her leave, went to the Tulasi grove.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.9.25.9)

तत्र गत्वा च सुस्नातो हरिः स तुलसीं सतीम् । पूजयामास तां ध्यात्वा स्तोत्रं भक्त्या चकार ह

tatra gatvā ca susnāto hariḥ sa tulasīṁ satīm | pūjayāmāsa tāṁ dhyātvā stotraṁ bhaktyā cakāra ha

Going there, having bathed well, Hari, meditating upon the virtuous Tulasi, worshipped her and, with devotion, composed a hymn to her.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.9.25.10)

लक्ष्मीमायाकामवाणीबीजपूर्वं दशाक्षरम् । वृन्दावनीति ङेऽन्तं च वह्निजायान्तमेव च

lakṣmīmāyākāmavāṇībījapūrvaṁ daśākṣaram | vṛndāvanīti ṅe'ntaṁ ca vahnijāyāntameva ca

— a ten-syllabled mantra preceded by the seed-syllables of Lakshmi, Maya, Kama, and Vani, joined with the word "Vrindavani" ending in the dative "ṅe," and closing with the seed-syllable of Agni's own consort —

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.9.25.11)

अनेन कल्पतरुणा मन्त्रराजेन नारद । पूजयेद्यो विधानेन सर्वसिद्धिं लभेद् ध्रुवम्

anena kalpataruṇā mantrarājena nārada | pūjayedyo vidhānena sarvasiddhiṁ labhed dhruvam

— by this wish-fulfilling-tree of a mantra, this very king of mantras, O Narada, whoever worships according to due rite certainly attains every accomplishment.

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.9.25.12)

घृतदीपेन धूपेन सिन्दूरचन्दनेन च । नैवेद्येन च पुष्पेण चोपचारेण नारद

ghṛtadīpena dhūpena sindūracandanena ca | naivedyena ca puṣpeṇa copacāreṇa nārada

— with a ghee-lamp, with incense, with sindura and sandal-paste, with food-offerings and flowers, and with every due ceremonial attendance, O Narada —

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.9.25.13)

हरिस्तोत्रेण तुष्टा सा चाविर्भूता महीरुहात् । प्रसन्ना चरणाम्भोजे जगाम शरणं शुभा

haristotreṇa tuṣṭā sā cāvirbhūtā mahīruhāt | prasannā caraṇāmbhoje jagāma śaraṇaṁ śubhā

Pleased by Hari's hymn, she manifested herself from the plant; and that auspicious goddess, gracious now, came to take refuge at his lotus feet.

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.9.25.14)

वरं तस्यै ददौ विष्णुः सर्वपूज्या भवेरिति । अहं त्वां धारयिष्यामि सुरूपां मूर्ध्नि वक्षसि

varaṁ tasyai dadau viṣṇuḥ sarvapūjyā bhaveriti | ahaṁ tvāṁ dhārayiṣyāmi surūpāṁ mūrdhni vakṣasi

Vishnu granted her a boon: "May you become worthy of worship by all"; and, "O beautiful one, I myself shall bear you upon my own head and chest."

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.9.25.15)

सर्वे त्वां धारयिष्यन्ति स्वमूर्ध्नि च सुरादयः । इत्युक्त्वा तां गृहीत्वा च प्रययौ स्वालयं विभुः

sarve tvāṁ dhārayiṣyanti svamūrdhni ca surādayaḥ | ityuktvā tāṁ gṛhītvā ca prayayau svālayaṁ vibhuḥ

"All the gods and the rest shall bear you upon their own heads." Having said this, the all-pervading Lord, taking her with him, went to his own abode.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.9.25.16)

नारद उवाच । किं ध्यानं स्तवनं किं वा किं वा पूजाविधानकम् । तुलस्याश्च महाभाग तन्मे व्याख्यातुमर्हसि

nārada uvāca | kiṁ dhyānaṁ stavanaṁ kiṁ vā kiṁ vā pūjāvidhānakam | tulasyāśca mahābhāga tanme vyākhyātumarhasi

Narada said: What is the meditation-verse, what the hymn of praise, and what the method of worship of Tulasi, O most fortunate one? You should explain this to me.

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.9.25.17)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । अन्तर्हितायां तस्यां च हरिर्वृन्दावने तदा । तस्याश्चक्रे स्तुतिं गत्वा तुलसीं विरहातुरः

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | antarhitāyāṁ tasyāṁ ca harirvṛndāvane tadā | tasyāścakre stutiṁ gatvā tulasīṁ virahāturaḥ

Sri Narayana said: When she had vanished, Hari, then at Vrindavana, tormented by separation, went to Tulasi and composed a hymn of praise to her.

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.9.25.18)

श्रीभगवानुवाच । वृन्दरूपाश्च वृक्षाश्च यदैकत्र भवन्ति च । विदुर्बुधास्तेन वृन्दां मत्प्रियां तां भजाम्यहम्

śrībhagavānuvāca | vṛndarūpāśca vṛkṣāśca yadaikatra bhavanti ca | vidurbudhāstena vṛndāṁ matpriyāṁ tāṁ bhajāmyaham

Sri Bhagavan said: "When plants of clustered form come together in one place as a Vrinda, the wise for that reason know her as Vrinda; I worship her, my beloved.

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.9.25.19)

पुरा बभूव या देवी त्वादौ वृन्दावने वने । तेन वृन्दावनी ख्याता सौभाग्या तां भजाम्यहम्

purā babhūva yā devī tvādau vṛndāvane vane | tena vṛndāvanī khyātā saubhāgyā tāṁ bhajāmyaham

"The goddess who was first present, of old, in the forest of Vrindavana — for that she is known as Vrindavani; I worship her, that fortunate one.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.9.25.20)

असङ्ख्येषु च विश्वेषु पूजिता या निरन्तरम् । तेन विश्वपूजिताऽऽख्यां पूजितां च भजाम्यहम्

asaṅkhyeṣu ca viśveṣu pūjitā yā nirantaram | tena viśvapūjitā''khyāṁ pūjitāṁ ca bhajāmyaham

"She who is ceaselessly worshipped throughout countless universes — for that she bears the name Vishvapujita; I worship her, the worshipped one.

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.9.25.21)

असङ्ख्यानि च विश्वानि पवित्राणि त्वया सदा । तां विश्वपावनीं देवीं विरहेण स्मराम्यहम्

asaṅkhyāni ca viśvāni pavitrāṇi tvayā sadā | tāṁ viśvapāvanīṁ devīṁ viraheṇa smarāmyaham

"By you countless universes are ever made pure; in this separation I remember that goddess, Vishvapavani.

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.9.25.22)

देवा न तुष्टाः पुष्पाणां समूहेन यया विना । तां पुष्पसारां शुद्धां च द्रष्टुमिच्छामि शोकतः

devā na tuṣṭāḥ puṣpāṇāṁ samūhena yayā vinā | tāṁ puṣpasārāṁ śuddhāṁ ca draṣṭumicchāmi śokataḥ

"Without her, the gods are not satisfied even by a multitude of flowers; I long, in my grief, to see her, that pure Pushpasara, the essence of flowers.

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.9.25.23)

विश्वे यत्प्राप्तिमात्रेण भक्तानन्दो भवेद् ध्रुवम् । नन्दिनी तेन विख्याता सा प्रीता भवतादिह

viśve yatprāptimātreṇa bhaktānando bhaved dhruvam | nandinī tena vikhyātā sā prītā bhavatādiha

"She by whose mere attainment a devotee's joy certainly arises in this world — for that she is known as Nandini; may she be gracious here.

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.9.25.24)

यस्या देव्यास्तुला नास्ति विश्वेषु निखिलेषु च । तुलसी तेन विख्याता तां यामि शरणं प्रियाम्

yasyā devyāstulā nāsti viśveṣu nikhileṣu ca | tulasī tena vikhyātā tāṁ yāmi śaraṇaṁ priyām

"That goddess who has no equal in all the universes — for that she is known as Tulasi; I go for refuge to her, my beloved.

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.9.25.25)

कृष्णजीवनरूपा सा शश्वत्प्रियतमा सती । तेन कृष्णजीवनी सा सा मे रक्षतु जीवनम्

kṛṣṇajīvanarūpā sā śaśvatpriyatamā satī | tena kṛṣṇajīvanī sā sā me rakṣatu jīvanam

"She who is, in her very form, the life of Krishna, ever most beloved and virtuous — for that she is Krishnajivani; may she protect my own life."

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.9.25.26)

इत्येवं स्तवनं कृत्वा तस्थौ तत्र रमापतिः । ददर्श तुलसीं साक्षात्पादपद्मनतां सतीम्

ityevaṁ stavanaṁ kṛtvā tasthau tatra ramāpatiḥ | dadarśa tulasīṁ sākṣātpādapadmanatāṁ satīm

Having composed this hymn, the Lord of Rama remained there; and he saw Tulasi herself, that virtuous woman, bowed at his own lotus feet —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.9.25.27)

रुदतीमवमानेन मानिनीं मानपूजिताम् । प्रियां दृष्ट्वा प्रियः शीघ्रं वासयामास वक्षसि

rudatīmavamānena māninīṁ mānapūjitām | priyāṁ dṛṣṭvā priyaḥ śīghraṁ vāsayāmāsa vakṣasi

— weeping still from that humiliation, proud, yet honored by all; and seeing his beloved, her lover swiftly seated her upon his own chest.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.9.25.28)

भारत्याज्ञां गहीत्वा च स्वालयं च ययौ हरिः । भारत्या सह तत्प्रीतिं कारयामास सत्वरम्

bhāratyājñāṁ gahītvā ca svālayaṁ ca yayau hariḥ | bhāratyā saha tatprītiṁ kārayāmāsa satvaram

Obtaining Bharati's permission, Hari went to his own abode; and he swiftly brought about a loving reconciliation between her and Sarasvati.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.9.25.29)

वरं विष्णुर्ददौ तस्यै सर्वपूज्या भवेरिति । शिरोधार्या च सर्वेषां वन्द्या मान्या ममेति च

varaṁ viṣṇurdadau tasyai sarvapūjyā bhaveriti | śirodhāryā ca sarveṣāṁ vandyā mānyā mameti ca

Vishnu granted her a boon: "May you be worthy of worship by all, to be borne upon everyone's head, revered, and honored by me."

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.9.25.30)

विष्णोर्वरेण सा देवी परितुष्टा बभूव च । सरस्वती तामाकृष्य वासयामास सन्निधौ

viṣṇorvareṇa sā devī parituṣṭā babhūva ca | sarasvatī tāmākṛṣya vāsayāmāsa sannidhau

By Vishnu's boon that goddess became fully content; and Sarasvati, drawing her close, seated her by her own side.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.9.25.31)

लक्ष्मीर्गङ्गा सस्मिता च तां समाकृष्य नारद । गृहं प्रवेशयामास विनयेन सतीं तदा

lakṣmīrgaṅgā sasmitā ca tāṁ samākṛṣya nārada | gṛhaṁ praveśayāmāsa vinayena satīṁ tadā

Lakshmi and Ganga too, smiling, O Narada, drew her close and, with humility, brought that virtuous woman into their own household.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.9.25.32)

वृन्दा वृन्दावनी विश्वपूजिता विश्वपावनी । पुष्पसारा नन्दनी च तुलसी कृष्णजीवनी

vṛndā vṛndāvanī viśvapūjitā viśvapāvanī | puṣpasārā nandanī ca tulasī kṛṣṇajīvanī

Vrinda, Vrindavani, Vishvapujita, Vishvapavani; Pushpasara, Nandini, Tulasi, and Krishnajivani —

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.9.25.33)

एतन्नामाष्टकञ्चैव स्तोत्रं नामार्थसंयुतम् । यः पठेत्तां च सम्पूज्य सोऽश्वमेधफलं लभेत्

etannāmāṣṭakañcaiva stotraṁ nāmārthasaṁyutam | yaḥ paṭhettāṁ ca sampūjya so'śvamedhaphalaṁ labhet

— these eight names, together with the meaning of each, form this hymn; whoever recites it, having duly worshipped her, obtains the fruit of a horse-sacrifice.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.9.25.34)

कार्तिक्यां पूर्णिमायां च तुलस्या जन्म मङ्गलम् । तत्र तस्याश्च पूजा च विहिता हरिणा पुरा

kārtikyāṁ pūrṇimāyāṁ ca tulasyā janma maṅgalam | tatra tasyāśca pūjā ca vihitā hariṇā purā

On the full moon of Kartika is Tulasi's own auspicious birth-day; and on that day her worship was ordained by Hari in ancient times.

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.9.25.35)

तस्यां यः पूजयेत्तां च भक्त्या वै विश्वपावनीम् । सर्वपापाद्विनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति

tasyāṁ yaḥ pūjayettāṁ ca bhaktyā vai viśvapāvanīm | sarvapāpādvinirmukto viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati

Whoever, on that day, worships her, the purifier of the universe, with devotion, is freed from all sin and goes to Vishnu's own realm.

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.9.25.36)

कार्तिके तुलसीपत्रं यो ददाति च विष्णुवे । गवामयुतदानस्य फलं प्राप्नोति निश्चितम्

kārtike tulasīpatraṁ yo dadāti ca viṣṇuve | gavāmayutadānasya phalaṁ prāpnoti niścitam

Whoever offers a Tulasi leaf to Vishnu in the month of Kartika certainly obtains the fruit of the gift of ten thousand cows.

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.9.25.37)

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं प्रियाहीनो लभेत्प्रियाम् । बन्धुहीनो लभेद् बन्धून् स्तोत्रश्रवणमात्रतः

aputro labhate putraṁ priyāhīno labhetpriyām | bandhuhīno labhed bandhūn stotraśravaṇamātrataḥ

The sonless obtain a son, the one bereft of a beloved obtains a beloved, and the one without kin obtains kinsmen — merely by hearing this hymn.

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.9.25.38)

रोगी प्रमुच्यते रोगाद् बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात् । भयान्मुच्येत भीतस्तु पापान्मुच्येत पातकी

rogī pramucyate rogād baddho mucyeta bandhanāt | bhayānmucyeta bhītastu pāpānmucyeta pātakī

The sick are freed from disease, the bound are freed from bondage, the fearful are freed from fear, and the sinful are freed from sin.

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.9.25.39)

इत्येवं कथितं स्तोत्रं ध्यानं पूजाविधिं शृणु । त्वमेव वेदे जानासि कण्वशाखोक्तमेव च

ityevaṁ kathitaṁ stotraṁ dhyānaṁ pūjāvidhiṁ śṛṇu | tvameva vede jānāsi kaṇvaśākhoktameva ca

Thus the hymn has been told; now hear the meditation-verse and the rite of worship. You yourself already know what is declared in the Veda, in the Kanva branch.

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.9.25.40)

तद्वृक्षे पूजयेत्तां च भक्त्या चावाहनं विना । तां ध्यात्वा चोपचारेण ध्यानं पातकनाशनम्

tadvṛkṣe pūjayettāṁ ca bhaktyā cāvāhanaṁ vinā | tāṁ dhyātvā copacāreṇa dhyānaṁ pātakanāśanam

One should worship her in that very plant, with devotion, without any formal invocation; meditating upon her with due ceremonial attendance — this meditation destroys sin.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.9.25.41)

तुलसीं पुष्पसारां च सतीं पूतां मनोहराम् । कृतपापेध्मदाहाय ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमाम्

tulasīṁ puṣpasārāṁ ca satīṁ pūtāṁ manoharām | kṛtapāpedhmadāhāya jvaladagniśikhopamām

One should meditate on Tulasi, the very essence of flowers, virtuous, pure, enchanting — like a blazing flame of fire for the burning of sins already committed —

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.9.25.42)

पुष्पेषु तुलना यस्या नास्ति वेदेषु भाषितम् । पवित्ररूपा सर्वासु तुलसी सा च कीर्तिता

puṣpeṣu tulanā yasyā nāsti vedeṣu bhāṣitam | pavitrarūpā sarvāsu tulasī sā ca kīrtitā

— she to whom no flower can be compared, as the Vedas themselves declare; pure in form above all others, she is celebrated as Tulasi.

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.9.25.43)

शिरोधार्या च सर्वेषामीप्सिता विश्वपावनी । जीवन्मुक्तां मुक्तिदां च भजे तां हरिभक्तिदाम्

śirodhāryā ca sarveṣāmīpsitā viśvapāvanī | jīvanmuktāṁ muktidāṁ ca bhaje tāṁ haribhaktidām

— to be borne upon everyone's head, desired by all, the purifier of the universe; I worship her, liberated even while living, the giver of liberation, the bestower of devotion to Hari.

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.9.25.44)

इति ध्यात्वा च सम्पूज्य स्तुत्वा च प्रणमेत्सुधीः । उक्तं तुलस्युपाख्यानं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि

iti dhyātvā ca sampūjya stutvā ca praṇametsudhīḥ | uktaṁ tulasyupākhyānaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotumicchasi

Having meditated thus, and having duly worshipped and praised her, the wise man should then bow. Thus has this story of Tulasi been told — what more do you wish to hear?