The Three-Night Tulsi Vow

Verse 1 (padma.6.25.1)

नारदउवाच ।एवं तुलस्या माहात्म्यं त्वत्प्रसादाच्छ्रुतं मया । सांप्रतं तु समाचक्ष्व त्रिरात्रं तुलसीव्रतम्

nāradauvāca evaṁ tulasyā māhātmyaṁ tvatprasādācchrutaṁ mayā sāṁprataṁ tu samācakṣva trirātraṁ tulasīvratam

Narada said: Thus, by your grace, I have heard the glory of Tulsi; now tell me of the three-night Tulsi vow.

Verse 2 (padma.6.25.2)

सदाशिव उवाच ।शृणु विप्र महाबुद्धे व्रतमेतत्पुरातनम् । यच्छ्रुत्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मुच्यते नात्र संशयः

sadāśiva uvāca śṛṇu vipra mahābuddhe vratametatpurātanam yacchrutvā sarvapāpebhyo mucyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

Sadashiva said: Listen, O highly wise brahmin, to this ancient vow, hearing which one is freed from all sins, without doubt.

Verse 3 (padma.6.25.3)

पुरा रैभ्यंतरे कल्पे राजा ह्यासीत्प्रजापतिः । तस्य भार्या च विख्याता चंद्ररूपा महासती

purā raibhyaṁtare kalpe rājā hyāsītprajāpatiḥ tasya bhāryā ca vikhyātā caṁdrarūpā mahāsatī

Long ago, in the Raibhya-antara kalpa, there was a king, a lord of creatures; his wife, renowned by the name Chandrarupa, was a great chaste woman.

Verse 4 (padma.6.25.4)

सा वै व्रतमिदं चक्रे सर्वकामफलप्रदम् । त्रिरात्रं तु व्रतं तस्या धर्मकामार्थ मोक्षदम्

sā vai vratamidaṁ cakre sarvakāmaphalapradam trirātraṁ tu vrataṁ tasyā dharmakāmārtha mokṣadam

She performed this very vow, which grants the fruit of every desire; her three-night vow granted dharma, artha, kama, and moksha.

Verse 5 (padma.6.25.5)

सफलं जीवितं तेषां यैः श्रुतं तुलसीव्रतम् । कार्तिके शुक्लपक्षे तु नवम्यां चैव नारद

saphalaṁ jīvitaṁ teṣāṁ yaiḥ śrutaṁ tulasīvratam kārtike śuklapakṣe tu navamyāṁ caiva nārada

Fruitful indeed is the life of those who have heard of the Tulsi vow. O Narada, on the ninth day of the bright fortnight of Kartika,

Verse 6 (padma.6.25.6)

नियमस्थो व्रती तिष्ठेद्भूमिशायी जितेंद्रियः । व्रतं त्रिरात्रमुद्दिश्य शुचिः संयतमानसः

niyamastho vratī tiṣṭhedbhūmiśāyī jiteṁdriyaḥ vrataṁ trirātramuddiśya śuciḥ saṁyatamānasaḥ

the votary should observe the vow, sleeping on the ground, with senses controlled; keeping the three-night vow's purpose in mind, pure and with a disciplined mind,

Verse 7 (padma.6.25.7)

स्वपेन्नियमपूर्वं तु तुलसीवनसंनिधौ । ततो मध्याह्नसमये नद्यादौ विमले जले

svapenniyamapūrvaṁ tu tulasīvanasaṁnidhau tato madhyāhnasamaye nadyādau vimale jale

he should sleep, in accordance with the observance, near the Tulsi grove; then, at midday, in the clear water of a river or the like,

Verse 8 (padma.6.25.8)

स्नानं कृत्वा पितॄन्देवांस्तर्पयेद्विधिपूर्वकम् । सुवर्णं कारयेद्देवं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम्

snānaṁ kṛtvā pitṝndevāṁstarpayedvidhipūrvakam suvarṇaṁ kārayeddevaṁ lakṣmyā saha janārdanam

having bathed, he should offer libations to the ancestors and the gods, according to due rite; he should have a golden image made of the god Janardana together with Lakshmi.

Verse 9 (padma.6.25.9)

वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यमात्मनः श्रेयमिच्छता । वस्त्रयुग्मं ततः कार्यं पीते शुक्लेऽपि वाससी । नवग्रहाणामारंभं शांतिकं विधिपूर्वकम्

vittaśāṭhyaṁ na kartavyamātmanaḥ śreyamicchatā vastrayugmaṁ tataḥ kāryaṁ pīte śukle'pi vāsasī navagrahāṇāmāraṁbhaṁ śāṁtikaṁ vidhipūrvakam

One who desires his own welfare should not be miserly with wealth. Then a pair of garments — yellow and white — should be provided; the worship of the nine planets should begin, and a peace-rite performed, according to due procedure.

Verse 10 (padma.6.25.10)

श्रपयित्वा चरुं तत्र वैष्णवं होममाचरेत् । द्वादश्यां देवदेवेशं पूजयित्वा प्रयत्नतः

śrapayitvā caruṁ tatra vaiṣṇavaṁ homamācaret dvādaśyāṁ devadeveśaṁ pūjayitvā prayatnataḥ

Having cooked a food-offering there, he should perform the Vaishnava homa; on the twelfth day, having diligently worshipped the God of gods,

Verse 11 (padma.6.25.11)

अव्रणं शुद्धकलशं स्थापयेद्विधिपूर्वकम् । पंचरत्नसमोपेतं पल्लवैश्चोषधीयुतम्

avraṇaṁ śuddhakalaśaṁ sthāpayedvidhipūrvakam paṁcaratnasamopetaṁ pallavaiścoṣadhīyutam

he should set up, according to rite, an unbroken, pure water-vessel, adorned with the five gems and sprouted herbs.

Verse 12 (padma.6.25.12)

तस्योपरिन्यसेत्पात्रे लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् । स्थापयेत्तुलसीमूले मंत्रैर्वेदपुराणकैः

tasyoparinyasetpātre lakṣmyā saha janārdanam sthāpayettulasīmūle maṁtrairvedapurāṇakaiḥ

Upon it, in a vessel, he should place Janardana together with Lakshmi, establishing them at the root of the Tulsi, with mantras from the Vedas and Puranas.

Verse 13 (padma.6.25.13)

पयसा केवलेनैव सिंचयेत्तुलसीवनम् । पंचामृतेन संस्नाप्य देवदेवं जगद्गुरुम्

payasā kevalenaiva siṁcayettulasīvanam paṁcāmṛtena saṁsnāpya devadevaṁ jagadgurum

He should sprinkle the Tulsi grove with milk alone; he should bathe the God of gods, the Guru of the world, with the five nectars.

Verse 14 (padma.6.25.14)

योऽनंतरूपोऽखिलविश्वरूपो गर्भोदके लोकविधिं बिभर्त्ति । प्रसीदतामेष सदेव देवो यो मायया विश्वकृदेष देवी

yo'naṁtarūpo'khilaviśvarūpo garbhodake lokavidhiṁ bibhartti prasīdatāmeṣa sadeva devo yo māyayā viśvakṛdeṣa devī

'May he be pleased — of endless form, of the form of the whole universe, who bears the ordinance of the worlds within the cosmic waters, that very God, who, through his own illusion, is himself the Creator of this universe, and is himself also the Goddess.'

Verse 15 (padma.6.25.15)

प्रार्थनामंत्रः । आगच्छाच्युत देवेश तेजोराशे जगत्पते । सदैव तिमिरध्वंसी पाहि मां भवसागरात्

prārthanāmaṁtraḥ āgacchācyuta deveśa tejorāśe jagatpate sadaiva timiradhvaṁsī pāhi māṁ bhavasāgarāt

The prayer mantra: 'Come, O Achyuta, Lord of gods, mass of radiance, Lord of the universe, ever the destroyer of darkness — protect me from the ocean of existence.'

Verse 16 (padma.6.25.16)

आवाहनमंत्रः । पंचामृतेन सुस्नानं तथा गंधोदकेन च । गंगादीनां च तोयेन स्नातोऽनंतःप्रसीदतु

āvāhanamaṁtraḥ paṁcāmṛtena susnānaṁ tathā gaṁdhodakena ca gaṁgādīnāṁ ca toyena snāto'naṁtaḥprasīdatu

The invocation mantra: 'Having bathed with the five nectars, with scented water, and with the water of the Ganga and other rivers, may the Infinite One be pleased.'

Verse 17 (padma.6.25.17)

स्नानमंत्रः । श्रीखंडागुरुकर्पूरं कुंकुमादिविलेपनम् । भक्त्या दत्तं मया देव लक्ष्म्या सह गृहाण वै

snānamaṁtraḥ śrīkhaṁḍāgurukarpūraṁ kuṁkumādivilepanam bhaktyā dattaṁ mayā deva lakṣmyā saha gṛhāṇa vai

The bathing mantra: 'Sandalwood, aloe-wood, camphor, and vermilion unguents, offered by me with devotion, O God — accept them, together with Lakshmi.'

Verse 18 (padma.6.25.18)

विलेपनमंत्रः । नारायण नमस्तेऽस्तु नरकार्णवतारण । त्रैलोक्याधिपते तुभ्यं ददामि वसने शुभे

vilepanamaṁtraḥ nārāyaṇa namaste'stu narakārṇavatāraṇa trailokyādhipate tubhyaṁ dadāmi vasane śubhe

The anointing mantra: 'Salutation to you, Narayana, who ferry across the ocean of hell; O Lord of the three worlds, I offer you this auspicious garment.'

Verse 19 (padma.6.25.19)

वस्त्रमंत्रः । दामोदर नमस्तेस्तु त्राहि मां भवसागरात् । ब्रह्मसूत्रं मया दत्तं गृहाण पुरुषोत्तम

vastramaṁtraḥ dāmodara namastestu trāhi māṁ bhavasāgarāt brahmasūtraṁ mayā dattaṁ gṛhāṇa puruṣottama

The garment mantra: 'Salutation to you, Damodara — save me from the ocean of existence; I have offered the sacred thread — accept it, O Purushottama.'

Verse 20 (padma.6.25.20)

उपवीतमंत्रः । पुष्पाणि च सुगंधीनि मालत्यादीनि वै प्रभो । मया दत्तानि देवेश प्रीतितः प्रतिगृह्यताम्

upavītamaṁtraḥ puṣpāṇi ca sugaṁdhīni mālatyādīni vai prabho mayā dattāni deveśa prītitaḥ pratigṛhyatām

The sacred-thread mantra: 'Fragrant jasmine and other flowers, O Lord, offered by me — accept them with pleasure, O Lord of gods.'

Verse 21 (padma.6.25.21)

पुष्पमंत्रः । नैवेद्यं गृह्यतां नाथ भक्ष्यभोज्यैः समन्वितम् । सर्वै रसैः सुसंपन्नं गृहाण परमेश्वर

puṣpamaṁtraḥ naivedyaṁ gṛhyatāṁ nātha bhakṣyabhojyaiḥ samanvitam sarvai rasaiḥ susaṁpannaṁ gṛhāṇa parameśvara

The flower mantra: 'Accept this food-offering, my Lord, complete with delicacies and dishes, rich with every flavor — accept it, O Supreme Lord.'

Verse 22 (padma.6.25.22)

नैवेद्यमंत्रः । पूगानि नागपत्राणि कर्पूरसहितानि च । मया दत्तानि देवेश तांबूलं प्रतिगृह्यताम्

naivedyamaṁtraḥ pūgāni nāgapatrāṇi karpūrasahitāni ca mayā dattāni deveśa tāṁbūlaṁ pratigṛhyatām

The naivedya mantra: 'Betel nuts and betel leaves, together with camphor, offered by me, O Lord of gods — accept this betel.'

Verse 23 (padma.6.25.23)

तांबूलमंत्रः । धूपं दत्वा गुरुं भक्त्या गुग्गुलं घृतमिश्रितम् । एवं पूजा प्रकर्त्तव्या घृतेन दीपमाचरेत्

tāṁbūlamaṁtraḥ dhūpaṁ datvā guruṁ bhaktyā guggulaṁ ghṛtamiśritam evaṁ pūjā prakarttavyā ghṛtena dīpamācaret

The betel mantra: having offered incense and guggulu mixed with ghee to the Guru with devotion, worship should thus be performed, and then a lamp lit with ghee.

Verse 24 (padma.6.25.24)

विविधं मुनिशार्दूल दीपं कृत्वा समाहितः । लक्ष्मीनारायणस्याग्रे तुलसीवनसन्निधौ

vividhaṁ muniśārdūla dīpaṁ kṛtvā samāhitaḥ lakṣmīnārāyaṇasyāgre tulasīvanasannidhau

O tiger among sages, having made various kinds of lamps, with focused mind, before Lakshmi-Narayana, near the Tulsi grove,

Verse 25 (padma.6.25.25)

अर्घं तत्र प्रदातव्यं देवदेवाय चक्रिणे । नवम्यां नालिकेरेण पुत्रार्थमर्घमुत्तमम्

arghaṁ tatra pradātavyaṁ devadevāya cakriṇe navamyāṁ nālikereṇa putrārthamarghamuttamam

one should offer an oblation there to the Discus-bearing God of gods. On the ninth day, with a coconut, one should offer the finest oblation, for the attainment of a son.

Verse 26 (padma.6.25.26)

दशम्यां बीजपूरं तु धर्मकामार्थसिद्धये । एकादश्यां दाडिमेन दारिद्र्यं नाशयेत्सदा

daśamyāṁ bījapūraṁ tu dharmakāmārthasiddhaye ekādaśyāṁ dāḍimena dāridryaṁ nāśayetsadā

On the tenth day, with a citron, for the accomplishment of dharma, kama, and artha; on the eleventh day, with a pomegranate, one should ever destroy poverty.

Verse 27 (padma.6.25.27)

सप्तधान्येन संयुक्तं वंशपात्रेण नारद । फलसप्तकसंयुक्तं पत्रं पूगसमन्वितम्

saptadhānyena saṁyuktaṁ vaṁśapātreṇa nārada phalasaptakasaṁyuktaṁ patraṁ pūgasamanvitam

O Narada, together with the seven grains, in a bamboo vessel, together with seven fruits and betel leaves,

Verse 28 (padma.6.25.28)

वस्त्रेणाच्छादितं कृत्वा देवस्याग्रे निवेदयेत् । मंत्रेणानेन विपेंद्र शृणुष्वैकाग्रमानसः

vastreṇācchāditaṁ kṛtvā devasyāgre nivedayet maṁtreṇānena vipeṁdra śṛṇuṣvaikāgramānasaḥ

covered with cloth, it should be offered before the god. O foremost of brahmins, listen to this mantra with a single-pointed mind —

Verse 29 (padma.6.25.29)

तुलसीसहितो देव सदा शंखेन संयुतम् । गृहाणार्घं मया दत्तं देवदेव नमोस्तुते

tulasīsahito deva sadā śaṁkhena saṁyutam gṛhāṇārghaṁ mayā dattaṁ devadeva namostute

'O God, together with Tulsi, ever accompanied by a conch, accept this oblation given by me, O God of gods — salutation to you.'

Verse 30 (padma.6.25.30)

अर्घमंत्रः । एवं संपूज्य देवेशं लक्ष्म्या सह जनार्दनम् । प्रार्थयेद्देवदेवेशं व्रतसंपूर्तिसिद्धये

arghamaṁtraḥ evaṁ saṁpūjya deveśaṁ lakṣmyā saha janārdanam prārthayeddevadeveśaṁ vratasaṁpūrtisiddhaye

The oblation mantra: having thus worshipped the God of gods, Janardana together with Lakshmi, one should pray to the God of gods for the completion and accomplishment of the vow —

Verse 31 (padma.6.25.31)

उपोषितोऽहं देवेश कामक्रोधविवर्जितः । व्रतेनानेन देवेश त्वमेवशरणं मम

upoṣito'haṁ deveśa kāmakrodhavivarjitaḥ vratenānena deveśa tvamevaśaraṇaṁ mama

'I have fasted, O Lord of gods, free from desire and anger; by this vow, O Lord of gods, you alone are my refuge.

Verse 32 (padma.6.25.32)

गृहीतेऽस्मिन्व्रते देव यदपूर्णं कृतं मया । सर्वं तदस्तु संपूर्णं त्वत्प्रसादाज्जनार्दन

gṛhīte'sminvrate deva yadapūrṇaṁ kṛtaṁ mayā sarvaṁ tadastu saṁpūrṇaṁ tvatprasādājjanārdana

'Having undertaken this vow, O God, whatever I have left incomplete — let all of it become complete, by your grace, O Janardana.

Verse 33 (padma.6.25.33)

नमः कमलपत्राक्ष नमस्ते जलशायिने । इदं व्रतं मयाचीर्णं प्रसादात्तव केशव

namaḥ kamalapatrākṣa namaste jalaśāyine idaṁ vrataṁ mayācīrṇaṁ prasādāttava keśava

'Salutation, O lotus-eyed one; salutation to you, who lie upon the waters; this vow, O Keshava, has been performed by me through your very grace.

Verse 34 (padma.6.25.34)

अज्ञानतिमिरध्वंसिन्व्रतेनानेन केशव । प्रसादसुमुखो भूत्वा ज्ञानदृष्टिप्रदो भव

ajñānatimiradhvaṁsinvratenānena keśava prasādasumukho bhūtvā jñānadṛṣṭiprado bhava

'O destroyer of the darkness of ignorance, O Keshava, by this vow, becoming gracious, grant me the eye of knowledge.'

Verse 35 (padma.6.25.35)

ततो जागरणं रात्रौ गीतपुस्तकवाचनम् । नाद नृत्यकलाभिज्ञैः पुण्याख्यानैः सुभोभनैः

tato jāgaraṇaṁ rātrau gītapustakavācanam nāda nṛtyakalābhijñaiḥ puṇyākhyānaiḥ subhobhanaiḥ

Then a night-vigil at night, the recitation of songbooks; with those skilled in the arts of music and dance, along with sacred, meritorious tales —

Verse 36 (padma.6.25.36)

विभातायां तु शर्वर्यामुदिते विमले रवौ । निमंत्र्य ब्राह्मणान्भक्त्या श्राद्धं कुर्याच्च वैष्णवम्

vibhātāyāṁ tu śarvaryāmudite vimale ravau nimaṁtrya brāhmaṇānbhaktyā śrāddhaṁ kuryācca vaiṣṇavam

when the night has dawned and the pure sun has risen, having invited brahmins with devotion, one should perform a Vaishnava shraddha,

Verse 37 (padma.6.25.37)

भोजयित्वा यथाकामं पायसेन घृतेन च । तांबूलपुष्पगंधादि दक्षिणाभिः समन्वितम्

bhojayitvā yathākāmaṁ pāyasena ghṛtena ca tāṁbūlapuṣpagaṁdhādi dakṣiṇābhiḥ samanvitam

feeding them as they desire, with rice-pudding and ghee, along with betel, flowers, fragrances, and gifts,

Verse 38 (padma.6.25.38)

उपवीतानि वासांसि दत्वा मालां च चंदनम् । दांपत्यत्रितयं भोज्यं वस्त्रभूषण कुंकुमैः

upavītāni vāsāṁsi datvā mālāṁ ca caṁdanam dāṁpatyatritayaṁ bhojyaṁ vastrabhūṣaṇa kuṁkumaiḥ

giving sacred threads, garments, a garland, and sandalwood; the couple and the officiant should be honored with food, cloth, ornaments, and vermilion.

Verse 39 (padma.6.25.39)

वंशपात्राणि शक्त्या च विरूढैः परिपूरयेत् । नालिकेरैश्च पक्वान्नैर्वस्त्रैश्च विविधैः फलैः

vaṁśapātrāṇi śaktyā ca virūḍhaiḥ paripūrayet nālikeraiśca pakvānnairvastraiśca vividhaiḥ phalaiḥ

Bamboo vessels should be filled, according to one's means, with sprouted grains, coconuts, cooked food, cloths, and various fruits.

Verse 40 (padma.6.25.40)

सपत्नीकं गुरुं तत्र वस्त्राणि परिधापयेत् । विभूषणानि दिव्यानि गंधमाल्यैः प्रपूजयेत्

sapatnīkaṁ guruṁ tatra vastrāṇi paridhāpayet vibhūṣaṇāni divyāni gaṁdhamālyaiḥ prapūjayet

There, one should clothe the guru together with his wife in garments, and worship them with divine ornaments and with fragrance and garlands.

Verse 41 (padma.6.25.41)

सर्वोपस्करसंयुक्तां गां दद्याच्च पयस्विनीम् । सदक्षिणां सवस्त्रां च तन्मे निगदतः शृणु

sarvopaskarasaṁyuktāṁ gāṁ dadyācca payasvinīm sadakṣiṇāṁ savastrāṁ ca tanme nigadataḥ śṛṇu

One should give a milk-yielding cow, equipped with everything necessary, together with gifts and cloth — hear this from me as I declare it.

Verse 42 (padma.6.25.42)

सर्वतीर्थेषु यत्पुण्यं स्नातानां जायते नृणाम् । तत्फलं स लभेत्सर्वं देवदेवप्रसादतः

sarvatīrtheṣu yatpuṇyaṁ snātānāṁ jāyate nṛṇām tatphalaṁ sa labhetsarvaṁ devadevaprasādataḥ

Whatever merit is gained by men who bathe at all the tirthas — he obtains that entire fruit, by the grace of the God of gods.

Verse 43 (padma.6.25.43)

भुक्त्वा च विपुलान्भोगान्सर्वकामान्मनोरमान् । वैष्णवं पदमाप्नोति अंते विष्णोः प्रसादतः

bhuktvā ca vipulānbhogānsarvakāmānmanoramān vaiṣṇavaṁ padamāpnoti aṁte viṣṇoḥ prasādataḥ

Having enjoyed abundant pleasures and every delightful desire, he attains, in the end, the state of Vishnu, by Vishnu's own grace.