The Glory of Tulsi and Shaligrama

Verse 1 (padma.6.23.1)

महादेवउवाच ।शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं तुलसीभवम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा मुच्यते पापादाजन्ममरणांतिकात्

mahādevauvāca śṛṇu nārada vakṣyāmi māhātmyaṁ tulasībhavam yacchrutvā mucyate pāpādājanmamaraṇāṁtikāt

Mahadeva said: Listen, Narada, I shall tell the glory born of Tulsi, hearing which one is freed from sin from birth until the very end of death.

Verse 2 (padma.6.23.2)

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं मूलं शाखा त्वक्स्कंधसंज्ञितम् । तुलसी संभवं सर्वं पावनं मृत्तिकादिकम्

patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ mūlaṁ śākhā tvakskaṁdhasaṁjñitam tulasī saṁbhavaṁ sarvaṁ pāvanaṁ mṛttikādikam

Leaf, flower, fruit, root, branch, bark, and stem — everything born of Tulsi is pure, including her very soil.

Verse 3 (padma.6.23.3)

शरीरं दह्यते येषां तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना । दत्वा च तुलसीकाष्ठं सर्वांगेषु मृतस्य वै

śarīraṁ dahyate yeṣāṁ tulasīkāṣṭhavahninā datvā ca tulasīkāṣṭhaṁ sarvāṁgeṣu mṛtasya vai

Those whose bodies are burned with the fire of Tulsi's wood — having placed Tulsi-wood upon all the limbs of the dead —

Verse 4 (padma.6.23.4)

पश्चाद्यः कुरुते दाहं सोऽपि पापात्प्रमुच्यते । मरणे यस्य संप्राप्तं कीर्तनं स्मरणं हरेः

paścādyaḥ kurute dāhaṁ so'pi pāpātpramucyate maraṇe yasya saṁprāptaṁ kīrtanaṁ smaraṇaṁ hareḥ

whoever performs the cremation afterward is also freed from sin. For one whose death coincides with the chanting and remembrance of Hari,

Verse 5 (padma.6.23.5)

तुलसीदारुणा दाहो न तस्य पुनरावृतिः । यद्येकं तुलसीकाष्ठं मध्ये काष्ठशतस्य हि

tulasīdāruṇā dāho na tasya punarāvṛtiḥ yadyekaṁ tulasīkāṣṭhaṁ madhye kāṣṭhaśatasya hi

by cremation with Tulsi's wood, he shall not be reborn again. If even one piece of Tulsi-wood is placed amid a hundred ordinary pieces of wood,

Verse 6 (padma.6.23.6)

दाहकाले भवेन्मुक्तिः कोटिपापायुतस्य च । गंगांभसाभिषेकेण यांति पुण्यानि पुण्यताम्

dāhakāle bhavenmuktiḥ koṭipāpāyutasya ca gaṁgāṁbhasābhiṣekeṇa yāṁti puṇyāni puṇyatām

then, at the time of cremation, liberation comes even for one with ten million sins. Just as merits become truly meritorious through the sprinkling of Ganga water,

Verse 7 (padma.6.23.7)

तुलसीकाष्ठमिश्राणि यांति दारूणि पुण्यताम् । तुलसीकाष्ठसंमिश्रा यावत्प्रज्वलते चिता

tulasīkāṣṭhamiśrāṇi yāṁti dārūṇi puṇyatām tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁmiśrā yāvatprajvalate citā

so too do ordinary logs become meritorious when mixed with Tulsi-wood. As long as a pyre mixed with Tulsi-wood burns,

Verse 8 (padma.6.23.8)

दह्यंति तस्य पापानि कल्पकोटिकृतानि वै । दह्यमानं नरं दृष्ट्वा तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना

dahyaṁti tasya pāpāni kalpakoṭikṛtāni vai dahyamānaṁ naraṁ dṛṣṭvā tulasīkāṣṭhavahninā

so long are that person's sins, accumulated over ten million kalpas, burned away. Seeing a man being cremated by the fire of Tulsi-wood —

Verse 9 (padma.6.23.9)

नयंति तं विष्णुदूता न च वै यमकिंकराः । जन्मकोटिसहस्रैस्तु मुक्तो याति जनार्दनम्

nayaṁti taṁ viṣṇudūtā na ca vai yamakiṁkarāḥ janmakoṭisahasraistu mukto yāti janārdanam

Vishnu's own messengers lead him away, not the servants of Yama. He, freed, goes to Janardana, as if released after a thousand million births.

Verse 10 (padma.6.23.10)

दह्यंते ये नरा लोके तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना । तान्विमानस्थितान्देवाः क्षिपंति कुसुमांजलिम्

dahyaṁte ye narā loke tulasīkāṣṭhavahninā tānvimānasthitāndevāḥ kṣipaṁti kusumāṁjalim

Those men in this world who are cremated by the fire of Tulsi-wood — the gods, standing in their aerial cars, shower flowers upon them.

Verse 11 (padma.6.23.11)

नृत्यंत्यप्सरसः सर्वा गीतं गायंति गायकाः । जायंते वीक्ष्य तं विष्णुः संतुष्टः शंभुना सह

nṛtyaṁtyapsarasaḥ sarvā gītaṁ gāyaṁti gāyakāḥ jāyaṁte vīkṣya taṁ viṣṇuḥ saṁtuṣṭaḥ śaṁbhunā saha

All the Apsaras dance, and singers sing songs; beholding him, Vishnu, together with Shambhu, becomes greatly pleased,

Verse 12 (padma.6.23.12)

गृहीत्वा तं करे शौरिर्गृहं नीत्वास्य चांगतः । मार्जयेत्सर्वपापानि पश्यतां त्रिदिवौकसाम्

gṛhītvā taṁ kare śaurirgṛhaṁ nītvāsya cāṁgataḥ mārjayetsarvapāpāni paśyatāṁ tridivaukasām

and Shauri takes him by the hand and leads him to his own abode, wiping away all his sins, before the very eyes of the heaven-dwellers.

Verse 13 (padma.6.23.13)

महोत्सवं कारयित्वा जयशब्दपुरःसरम् । ज्वलते यत्र चाज्येन तुलसीकाष्ठपावकः

mahotsavaṁ kārayitvā jayaśabdapuraḥsaram jvalate yatra cājyena tulasīkāṣṭhapāvakaḥ

Having a great festival performed, preceded by shouts of victory — where the fire of Tulsi-wood, kindled with ghee, blazes,

Verse 14 (padma.6.23.14)

अग्न्यगारे श्मशाने वा दह्यते पातकं नृणाम् । होमं कुर्वंति ये विप्रास्तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना । सिक्ते सिक्ते तिले वापि अग्निष्टोमफलं लभेत्

agnyagāre śmaśāne vā dahyate pātakaṁ nṛṇām homaṁ kurvaṁti ye viprāstulasīkāṣṭhavahninā sikte sikte tile vāpi agniṣṭomaphalaṁ labhet

whether in a fire-chamber or at a cremation ground, the sin of men is burned away there. Brahmins who perform homa with the fire of Tulsi-wood, sprinkling sesame again and again, obtain the fruit of an Agnishtoma sacrifice.

Verse 15 (padma.6.23.15)

यो ददाति हरेर्धूपं तुलसीकाष्ठसंभवम् । शतक्रतुसमं पुण्यं लभते गोशतं फलम्

yo dadāti harerdhūpaṁ tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhavam śatakratusamaṁ puṇyaṁ labhate gośataṁ phalam

Whoever offers incense made from Tulsi-wood to Hari obtains merit equal to a hundred sacrifices, and the fruit of a hundred cows given in gift.

Verse 16 (padma.6.23.16)

नैवेद्यं पच्यते यस्तु तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना । मेरुतुल्यं भवेद्दत्तं तदन्नं केशवस्य हि

naivedyaṁ pacyate yastu tulasīkāṣṭhavahninā merutulyaṁ bhaveddattaṁ tadannaṁ keśavasya hi

Whoever cooks the food-offering with the fire of Tulsi-wood — that food, offered to Keshava, becomes as great in fruit as Mount Meru.

Verse 17 (padma.6.23.17)

तुलसीपावकेनाथ यो दीपं कुरुते हरेः । दीपलक्षसहस्राणां पुण्यं स लभते फलम्

tulasīpāvakenātha yo dīpaṁ kurute hareḥ dīpalakṣasahasrāṇāṁ puṇyaṁ sa labhate phalam

One who lights a lamp for Hari with Tulsi's fire obtains the merit of a hundred thousand lamps.

Verse 18 (padma.6.23.18)

न तेन सदृशो लोके वैष्णवो भुवि दृश्यते । यः प्रयच्छति कृष्णस्य तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम्

na tena sadṛśo loke vaiṣṇavo bhuvi dṛśyate yaḥ prayacchati kṛṣṇasya tulasīkāṣṭhacaṁdanam

There is no Vaishnava seen anywhere on this earth equal to the one who offers Krishna sandal-paste made from Tulsi's wood —

Verse 19 (padma.6.23.19)

स जायते कृपापात्रं विष्णोर्वाडवसत्तम

sa jāyate kṛpāpātraṁ viṣṇorvāḍavasattama

O best of brahmins, he becomes a vessel of Vishnu's grace.

Verse 20 (padma.6.23.20)

तुलसीदारुजातेन चंदनेन कलौ हरिम् । विलिप्य भक्तितो नित्यं रमते हरिसन्निधौ

tulasīdārujātena caṁdanena kalau harim vilipya bhaktito nityaṁ ramate harisannidhau

Anointing Hari daily with devotion, using sandal-paste made from Tulsi's wood, in the Kali age, one dwells forever in Hari's presence.

Verse 21 (padma.6.23.21)

तुलसीपंकलिप्तांगः कुरुते विष्णुपूजनम् । पूजाशतदिनैकाह्ना लभ्यते गोशतं फलम्

tulasīpaṁkaliptāṁgaḥ kurute viṣṇupūjanam pūjāśatadinaikāhnā labhyate gośataṁ phalam

One whose body is smeared with Tulsi's mud, and who performs worship of Vishnu — with a single day's worship he obtains the merit of a hundred days' worship, and the fruit of a hundred cows.

Verse 22 (padma.6.23.22)

विलेपार्थे तु कृष्णस्य तुलसीकाष्ठचंदनम् । मंदिरे तिष्ठते यावत्तावत्पुण्यफलं शृणु

vilepārthe tu kṛṣṇasya tulasīkāṣṭhacaṁdanam maṁdire tiṣṭhate yāvattāvatpuṇyaphalaṁ śṛṇu

As long as sandal-paste made from Tulsi's wood, meant for anointing Krishna, remains in a temple, so long — hear its meritorious fruit.

Verse 23 (padma.6.23.23)

तिलप्रस्थाष्टकं दत्वा यत्पुण्यं प्राप्नुयान्नरः । तत्फलं जायते पुंसां प्रसादाच्चक्रपाणिनः

tilaprasthāṣṭakaṁ datvā yatpuṇyaṁ prāpnuyānnaraḥ tatphalaṁ jāyate puṁsāṁ prasādāccakrapāṇinaḥ

Whatever merit a man obtains by giving eight measures of sesame — that very fruit is obtained by men, through the grace of the Discus-bearer.

Verse 24 (padma.6.23.24)

यो ददाति पितॄणां तु पिंडे तुलसिसंभवम् । दलं संजायते तृप्तिः पत्रे पत्रे शताब्दिका

yo dadāti pitṝṇāṁ tu piṁḍe tulasisaṁbhavam dalaṁ saṁjāyate tṛptiḥ patre patre śatābdikā

Whoever offers to the ancestors a pinda containing even a leaf born of Tulsi — with each and every such leaf, satisfaction lasting a hundred years is produced.

Verse 25 (padma.6.23.25)

तुलसीमूलमृत्स्नैव स्नानं कुर्याद्विशेषतः । तेन तीर्थे कृतं स्नानं यावच्चांगे च मृत्तिका

tulasīmūlamṛtsnaiva snānaṁ kuryādviśeṣataḥ tena tīrthe kṛtaṁ snānaṁ yāvaccāṁge ca mṛttikā

One should especially bathe with earth from Tulsi's very root; as long as that earth remains upon the body, such a bath equals bathing at a tirtha.

Verse 26 (padma.6.23.26)

तदीय यातु मंजर्या पूजनं च करोति यः । नानापुष्पैः कृता पूजा यावच्चंद्रदिवाकरौ

tadīya yātu maṁjaryā pūjanaṁ ca karoti yaḥ nānāpuṣpaiḥ kṛtā pūjā yāvaccaṁdradivākarau

Whoever performs worship with her very manjari — worship performed with various flowers becomes equal in merit to worship lasting as long as the sun and moon endure.

Verse 27 (padma.6.23.27)

यस्मिन्गृहेऽवतिष्ठेत तुलसी वृक्षवाटिका । दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाच्चैव ब्रह्महत्यादिपातकम् । तत्सर्वं विलयं याति दर्शनेनैव नारद

yasmingṛhe'vatiṣṭheta tulasī vṛkṣavāṭikā darśanātsparśanāccaiva brahmahatyādipātakam tatsarvaṁ vilayaṁ yāti darśanenaiva nārada

In whatever house a garden of Tulsi trees stands, by the mere sight and touch of it, the sin of killing a brahmin and the like — O Narada, all of it is dissolved by that very sight.

Verse 28 (padma.6.23.28)

महादेव उवाच ।अथान्यत्ते प्रवक्ष्यामि शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः । न कस्यापि च कथितं शृणु देवर्षिसत्तम

mahādeva uvāca athānyatte pravakṣyāmi śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasaḥ na kasyāpi ca kathitaṁ śṛṇu devarṣisattama

Mahadeva said: Now I shall tell you something else — listen with a single-pointed mind; this has been told to no one else — hear it, O best of divine sages.

Verse 29 (padma.6.23.29)

यत्र यत्र गृहे ग्रामे वने वा तुलसी भवेत् । तत्र तत्र जगत्स्वामी प्रीतात्मा च वसेद्धरिः

yatra yatra gṛhe grāme vane vā tulasī bhavet tatra tatra jagatsvāmī prītātmā ca vaseddhariḥ

Wherever, in a house, a village, or a forest, Tulsi grows, there the Lord of the world, Hari, dwells, his heart well pleased.

Verse 30 (padma.6.23.30)

गृहे तस्मिन्न दारिद्र्यं नायोगो बंधुसंभवः । न दुःखं न भयं रोगस्तुलसी यत्र तिष्ठति

gṛhe tasminna dāridryaṁ nāyogo baṁdhusaṁbhavaḥ na duḥkhaṁ na bhayaṁ rogastulasī yatra tiṣṭhati

In that house there is no poverty, no misfortune befalling kin; wherever Tulsi stands, there is no sorrow, no fear, no disease.

Verse 31 (padma.6.23.31)

सर्वत्र तुलसी पुण्या पुण्यक्षेत्रे विशेषतः । संनिधौ तस्य देवस्य रोपणात्पृथिवीतले

sarvatra tulasī puṇyā puṇyakṣetre viśeṣataḥ saṁnidhau tasya devasya ropaṇātpṛthivītale

Tulsi is meritorious everywhere, but especially in a sacred field; in the presence of that deity, by planting her upon the earth —

Verse 32 (padma.6.23.32)

तेषां विष्णुपदं नित्यं तुलस्यारोपणे कृते । उत्पादान्दारुणान्रोगान्दुर्निमित्तान्यनेकशः । तुलस्याभ्यर्चिते भक्त्या हंत शांतिकरो हरिः

teṣāṁ viṣṇupadaṁ nityaṁ tulasyāropaṇe kṛte utpādāndāruṇānrogāndurnimittānyanekaśaḥ tulasyābhyarcite bhaktyā haṁta śāṁtikaro hariḥ

Once Tulsi is planted, that place always becomes Vishnu's very own realm. Frightful calamities, diseases, and many kinds of ill omens — when Tulsi is worshipped with devotion, Hari sets all of them at peace.

Verse 33 (padma.6.23.33)

तुलसीगंधमाघ्राय यत्र गच्छति मारुतः । दिशो दश च ताः पूता भूतग्रामश्चतुर्विधः

tulasīgaṁdhamāghrāya yatra gacchati mārutaḥ diśo daśa ca tāḥ pūtā bhūtagrāmaścaturvidhaḥ

Wherever the wind goes, having inhaled the fragrance of Tulsi, all ten directions become purified, and the fourfold host of beings too.

Verse 34 (padma.6.23.34)

यस्मिन्गृहे मुनिश्रेष्ठ तुलसीमूलमृत्तिका । सर्वदा तत्र तिष्ठंति देवताश्च शिवो हरिः

yasmingṛhe muniśreṣṭha tulasīmūlamṛttikā sarvadā tatra tiṣṭhaṁti devatāśca śivo hariḥ

O best of sages, in whatever house there is soil from Tulsi's root, there the gods, Shiva, and Hari always dwell.

Verse 35 (padma.6.23.35)

तुलसीवनजा छाया यत्र यत्र भवेद्दिवज । तर्पणं कुरुते तत्र पितॄणां दत्तमक्षयम्

tulasīvanajā chāyā yatra yatra bhaveddivaja tarpaṇaṁ kurute tatra pitṝṇāṁ dattamakṣayam

O twice-born, wherever the shade of a Tulsi grove falls, offerings made there to the ancestors become imperishable.

Verse 36 (padma.6.23.36)

तस्य मूले स्थितो ब्रह्मा मध्ये देवो जनार्दनः । मंजर्यां वसते रुद्रः तुलसी तेन पावनी

tasya mūle sthito brahmā madhye devo janārdanaḥ maṁjaryāṁ vasate rudraḥ tulasī tena pāvanī

In her root dwells Brahma, in her middle the god Janardana, and in her manjari dwells Rudra — this is why Tulsi is purifying.

Verse 37 (padma.6.23.37)

विना यस्तुलसीं कुर्यात्संध्याकाले तु मार्जनम् । तत्सर्वं राक्षसहृतं नरकं च प्रयच्छति

vinā yastulasīṁ kuryātsaṁdhyākāle tu mārjanam tatsarvaṁ rākṣasahṛtaṁ narakaṁ ca prayacchati

Whoever performs the evening cleansing rite without Tulsi — all of it is stolen away by rakshasas, and leads only to hell.

Verse 38 (padma.6.23.38)

तुलसीपत्रगलितं तोयं यः शिरसावहेत् । गंगाफलमवाप्नोति शतधेनुफलं लभेत्

tulasīpatragalitaṁ toyaṁ yaḥ śirasāvahet gaṁgāphalamavāpnoti śatadhenuphalaṁ labhet

Whoever bears upon his head the water that has trickled from a Tulsi leaf obtains the fruit of the Ganga, and the fruit of a hundred cows given in gift.

Verse 39 (padma.6.23.39)

शिवालये विशेषेण रोपयेत्तुलसीं यदि । बीजसंख्या वसेत्स्वर्गे प्रत्येकं युगसंख्यया

śivālaye viśeṣeṇa ropayettulasīṁ yadi bījasaṁkhyā vasetsvarge pratyekaṁ yugasaṁkhyayā

If one plants Tulsi especially in a Shiva temple, he shall dwell in heaven for as many yugas as there are seeds in it.

Verse 40 (padma.6.23.40)

उमया तु पुरा देवि शंकरार्थं हिमालये । रोपिताः शतवृक्षास्तु तुलस्याः प्रणतोऽस्म्यहम्

umayā tu purā devi śaṁkarārthaṁ himālaye ropitāḥ śatavṛkṣāstu tulasyāḥ praṇato'smyaham

O Goddess, long ago Uma herself planted a hundred Tulsi trees on the Himalaya for Shankara's sake — I bow to that Tulsi.

Verse 41 (padma.6.23.41)

पर्वण्यवसरे यस्तु श्रावणे चाथ रोपयेत् । संक्रांतिदिवसे चैव तुलसी चातिपुण्यदा

parvaṇyavasare yastu śrāvaṇe cātha ropayet saṁkrāṁtidivase caiva tulasī cātipuṇyadā

Whoever plants Tulsi on a festival occasion, in the month of Shravana, or on the day of the solstice, receives the greatest merit from Tulsi.

Verse 42 (padma.6.23.42)

तुलसीं पूजयेन्नित्यं दरिद्र ईश्वरो भवेत् । सर्वसिद्धिकरामूर्तिः कृष्णः कीर्तिं ददाति च

tulasīṁ pūjayennityaṁ daridra īśvaro bhavet sarvasiddhikarāmūrtiḥ kṛṣṇaḥ kīrtiṁ dadāti ca

Whoever worships Tulsi daily, even if poor, becomes a lord; Krishna, the very form that grants all accomplishment, bestows fame upon him as well.

Verse 43 (padma.6.23.43)

शालग्रामशिला यत्र तत्र संनिहितो हरिः । तत्र स्नानं च दानं च वाराणस्यां शताधिकम्

śālagrāmaśilā yatra tatra saṁnihito hariḥ tatra snānaṁ ca dānaṁ ca vārāṇasyāṁ śatādhikam

Wherever a Shaligrama stone is present, there Hari is truly present; bathing and giving gifts there is a hundred times more meritorious than at Varanasi,

Verse 44 (padma.6.23.44)

कुरुक्षेत्रं प्रयागं च नैमिषारण्यमेव च । तस्य कोटिगुणं पुण्यं शालग्रामशिलार्चनात्

kurukṣetraṁ prayāgaṁ ca naimiṣāraṇyameva ca tasya koṭiguṇaṁ puṇyaṁ śālagrāmaśilārcanāt

than at Kurukshetra, Prayaga, or Naimisharanya as well; through the worship of a Shaligrama stone, the merit is a hundred million times greater.

Verse 45 (padma.6.23.45)

शालग्राममयी मुद्रा संस्थिता यत्र हि क्वचित् । वाराणस्यां च यत्पुण्यं सर्वं तत्रैव तद्भवेत्

śālagrāmamayī mudrā saṁsthitā yatra hi kvacit vārāṇasyāṁ ca yatpuṇyaṁ sarvaṁ tatraiva tadbhavet

Wherever a Shaligrama emblem is established, whatever merit exists at Varanasi, all of that exists right there too.

Verse 46 (padma.6.23.46)

ब्रह्महत्यादिकं पापं यत्किंचित्कुरुते नरः । तत्सर्वं नाशयेदाशु शालग्रामशिलार्चनात्

brahmahatyādikaṁ pāpaṁ yatkiṁcitkurute naraḥ tatsarvaṁ nāśayedāśu śālagrāmaśilārcanāt

Whatever sin, even one such as the killing of a brahmin, a man may commit — all of it is swiftly destroyed by the worship of a Shaligrama stone.