Kushmanda-Navami and the Rite of Tulasi's Marriage

Verse 1 (skanda.2.128.1)

॥वालखिल्या ऊचुः॥ कार्तिके शुक्लनवमी तत्राऽभूद्द्वापरं युगम् ॥ पूर्वाऽपराह्णगा ग्राह्या क्रमाद्दानोपवासयोः

vālakhilyā ūcuḥ kārtike śuklanavamī tatrā'bhūddvāparaṁ yugam || pūrvā'aparāhṇagā grāhyā kramāddānopavāsayoḥ

The Valakhilyas said: On the ninth day of Kartika's bright fortnight, in the Dvapara age, this occurred. For giving and for fasting, the ninth tithi prevailing respectively in the forenoon and afternoon should be taken.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.128.2)

अत्र कूष्मांडकोनाम हतो दैत्यस्तु विष्णुना ॥ तद्रोमभिः समुद्भूता वल्ल्यः कूष्मांडसंभवाः

atra kūṣmāṇḍakonāma hato daityastu viṣṇunā || tadromabhiḥ samudbhūtā vallyaḥ kūṣmāṇḍasaṁbhavāḥ

On this day Vishnu slew the daitya named Kushmandaka; from his body-hairs sprang the vines that gave rise to the kushmanda (ash-gourd).

Verse 3 (skanda.2.128.3)

तस्मात्कूष्मांडदानेन फलमाप्नोति निश्चितम् ॥ अस्यामेव नवम्यां तु कुर्यात्कृष्णोत्सवं नरः

tasmātkūṣmāṇḍadānena phalamāpnoti niścitam || asyāmeva navamyāṁ tu kuryātkṛṣṇotsavaṁ naraḥ

Therefore the gift of the kushmanda certainly yields its fruit. On this very ninth day, a man should celebrate the festival of Krishna.

Verse 4 (skanda.2.128.4)

स्वशाखोक्तेन विधिना तुलस्याः करपीडनम् ॥ कन्यादानफलं तस्य जायते नात्र संशयः

svaśākhoktena vidhinā tulasyāḥ karapīḍanam || kanyādānaphalaṁ tasya jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

By performing the "hand-clasping" (marriage) rite of Tulasi according to the procedure stated in one's own Vedic school, one obtains, without doubt, the merit of the gift of a daughter in marriage.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.128.5)

कार्तिके शुक्लनवमीमवाप्य विजितेंद्रियः ॥ हरिं विधाय सौवर्णं तुलस्या सहितं शुभम्

kārtike śuklanavamīmavāpya vijitendriyaḥ || hariṁ vidhāya sauvarṇaṁ tulasyā sahitaṁ śubham

On attaining the ninth day of Kartika's bright fortnight, a man of controlled senses, having had made an auspicious golden image of Hari together with Tulasi,

Verse 6 (skanda.2.128.6)

पूजयेद्विधिवद्भक्त्या व्रती तत्र दिनत्रयम् ॥ एवं यथोक्तविधिना कुर्याद्वैवाहिकं विधिम्

pūjayedvidhivadbhaktyā vratī tatra dinatrayam || evaṁ yathoktavidhinā kuryādvaivāhikaṁ vidhim

should, keeping the vow, duly and devotedly worship them for three days. Thus, in the prescribed manner, one should perform the rite of their wedding.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.128.7)

ग्राह्यं त्रिरात्रमत्रैव नवम्याद्यनुरोधतः ॥ मध्याह्नव्यापिनी ग्राह्या नवमी पूर्ववेधिता

grāhyaṁ trirātramatraiva navamyādyanurodhataḥ || madhyāhnavyāpinī grāhyā navamī pūrvavedhitā

Here, three nights should be taken, beginning from the ninth. The ninth tithi that pervades midday, joined with the preceding tithi, should be taken.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.128.8)

धात्र्यश्वत्थौ य एकत्र पालयित्वा समुद्वहेत् ॥ न नश्यते तस्य पुण्यं कल्पकोटिशतैरपि

dhātryaśvatthau ya ekatra pālayitvā samudvahet || na naśyate tasya puṇyaṁ kalpakoṭiśatairapi

Whoever, having tended an amla tree and a peepal tree together, performs their marriage — his merit does not perish even in hundreds of millions of cosmic ages.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.128.9)

कनकस्य सुता पूर्वमेकादश्यां किशोरिका ॥ चकार भक्तितः सायं तुलस्युद्वाहजं विधिम्

kanakasya sutā pūrvamekādaśyāṁ kiśorikā || cakāra bhaktitaḥ sāyaṁ tulasyudvāhajaṁ vidhim

Long ago, the daughter of Kanaka, a young girl, on an Ekadashi, performed with devotion in the evening the rite of Tulasi's marriage.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.128.10)

तेन वैधव्यदोषेण निर्मुक्ताऽऽसीत्सुलोचना ॥ तस्मात्सायं प्रकर्तव्यस्तुलस्तुद्वाहजो विधिः

tena vaidhavyadoṣeṇa nirmuktā'āsītsulocanā || tasmātsāyaṁ prakartavyastulastudvāhajo vidhiḥ

By that rite, the lovely-eyed girl was freed from the taint of widowhood. Therefore the rite of Tulasi's marriage should be performed in the evening.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.128.11)

अवश्यमेव कर्तव्यः प्रतिवर्षं तु वैष्णवैः ॥ विधिं तस्य प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा सांगा क्रिया भवेत्

avaśyameva kartavyaḥ prativarṣaṁ tu vaiṣṇavaiḥ || vidhiṁ tasya pravakṣyāmi yathā sāṁgā kriyā bhavet

Vaishnavas must certainly perform it every year. I shall now declare its procedure, so that the rite may be complete with all its parts.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.128.12)

विष्णोस्तु प्रतिमां कुर्यात्पलस्य स्वर्णजां शुभाम् ॥ तदर्द्धार्द्धं तदर्द्धार्द्धं यथाशक्त्या प्रकल्पयेत्

viṣṇostu pratimāṁ kuryātpalasya svarṇajāṁ śubhām || tadardhārdhaṁ tadardhārdhaṁ yathāśaktyā prakalpayet

One should have made an auspicious golden image of Vishnu weighing one pala; or, according to one's means, half of that weight, or half of that half.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.128.13)

प्राणप्रतिष्ठां कृत्वैव तुलसीविष्णुरूपयोः ॥ तत उत्थापयेद्देवं पूर्वोक्तैश्च स्तवादिभिः

prāṇapratiṣṭhāṁ kṛtvaiva tulasīviṣṇurūpayoḥ || tata utthāpayeddevaṁ pūrvoktaiśca stavādibhiḥ

Having performed the life-consecration of both the forms of Tulasi and Vishnu, one should then awaken the god with the previously mentioned hymns and the like.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.128.14)

उपचारैः षोडशभिः पूजयेत्पुरुषोक्तिभिः ॥ देशकालौ ततः स्मृत्वा गणेशं तत्र पूजयेत्

upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiḥ pūjayetpuruṣoktibhiḥ || deśakālau tataḥ smṛtvā gaṇeśaṁ tatra pūjayet

One should worship with the sixteen ritual offerings, using the verses of the Purusha-sukta. Then, having invoked the time and place, one should worship Ganesha there.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.128.15)

पुण्याहं वाचयित्वाथ नांदीश्राद्धं समाचरेत् ॥ वेदवाद्यादिनिर्घोषैर्विष्णुमूर्तिं समानयेत्

puṇyāhaṁ vācayitvātha nāṁdīśrāddhaṁ samācaret || vedavādyādinirghoṣairviṣṇumūrtiṁ samānayet

Having had the "auspicious day" declared, one should perform the Nandi-shraddha. With the resounding of Vedic recitation and musical instruments, one should bring in the image of Vishnu.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.128.16)

तुलसीनिकटे सा तु स्थाप्या चांऽतर्हिता पटैः ॥ आगच्छ भगवन्देव अर्चयिष्यामि केशव

tulasīnikaṭe sā tu sthāpyā cā'antarhitā paṭaiḥ || āgaccha bhagavandeva arcayiṣyāmi keśava

It should be placed near Tulasi, screened by cloths, saying: "Come, O Blessed Lord, O God; I shall worship you, O Keshava.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.128.17)

तुभ्यं दास्यामि तुलसीं सर्वकामप्रदो भव ॥ दद्यात्त्रिवारमर्घ्यं च पाद्यं विष्टरमेव च

tubhyaṁ dāsyāmi tulasīṁ sarvakāmaprado bhava || dadyāttrivāramarghyaṁ ca pādyaṁ viṣṭarameva ca

I shall give you Tulasi; be the granter of all desires." One should offer arghya, foot-water, and a seat, each three times.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.128.18)

तत आचमनीयं च त्रिरुक्त्वा च प्रदापयेत् ॥ ततो दधि घृतं क्षीरं कांस्यपात्रपुटीकृतम्

tata ācamanīyaṁ ca triruktvā ca pradāpayet || tato dadhi ghṛtaṁ kṣīraṁ kāṁsyapātrapuṭīkṛtam

Then one should offer sipping-water too, reciting it three times. Then curd, ghee, and milk, kept in a bronze vessel —

Verse 19 (skanda.2.128.19)

मधुपर्कं गृहाण त्वं वासुदेव नमोस्तु ते ॥ हरिद्रालेपानाभ्यंगकार्यं सर्वं विधाय च

madhuparkaṁ gṛhāṇa tvaṁ vāsudeva namostu te || haridrālepanābhyaṁgakāryaṁ sarvaṁ vidhāya ca

(offering, one should say) "Accept this madhuparka, O Vasudeva; salutations to you." Having completed the whole rite of anointing with turmeric-paste and oil,

Verse 20 (skanda.2.128.20)

गोधूलिसमये पूज्यौ तुलसीकेशवौ पुनः ॥ पृथक्पृथक्तथा कार्यौ संमुखौ मंगलं पठेत्

godhūlisamaye pūjyau tulasīkeśavau punaḥ || pṛthakpṛthaktathā kāryau saṁmukhau maṁgalaṁ paṭhet

at the hour of cattle-dust (twilight), Tulasi and Keshava should again be worshipped, each set up separately yet facing one another, while auspicious verses are recited.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.128.21)

ईषद्दृश्ये भास्करे तु संकल्पं तु समुच्चरेत् ॥ स्वगोत्रप्रवरानुक्त्वा तथा त्रिपुरुषादिकम्

īṣaddṛśye bhāskare tu saṁkalpaṁ tu samuccaret || svagotrapravarānuktvā tathā tripuruṣādikam

When the sun is still faintly visible, one should utter the vow-declaration, naming one's own gotra and pravara, together with the names of three ancestors —

Verse 22 (skanda.2.128.22)

अनादिमध्यनिधन त्रैलोक्यप्रतिपालक ॥ इमां गृहाण तुलसीं विवाहविधिनेश्वर

anādimadhyanidhana trailokyapratipālaka || imāṁ gṛhāṇa tulasīṁ vivāhavidhineśvara

saying: "O you without beginning, middle, or end, O sustainer of the three worlds, O Lord! Accept this Tulasi through the rite of marriage.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.128.23)

पार्वतीबीजसंभूतां वृंदाभस्मनि संस्थिताम् ॥ अनादिमध्यनिधनां वल्लभां ते ददाम्यहम्

pārvatībījasaṁbhūtāṁ vṛṁdābhasmani saṁsthitām || anādimadhyanidhanāṁ vallabhāṁ te dadāmyaham

Born from Parvati's seed, established in Vrinda's ashes, without beginning, middle, or end — I give you this your beloved.

Verse 24 (skanda.2.128.24)

पयोघटैश्च सेवाभिः कन्यावद्वर्धिता मया ॥ त्वत्प्रियां तुलसीं तुभ्यं ददामि त्वं गृहाण भोः

payoghaṭaiśca sevābhiḥ kanyāvadvardhitā mayā || tvatpriyāṁ tulasīṁ tubhyaṁ dadāmi tvaṁ gṛhāṇa bhoḥ

Whom I have raised with pots of milk and services, as one raises a daughter — I give you this your beloved Tulasi; accept her, O Lord."

Verse 25 (skanda.2.128.25)

एवं दत्त्वा च तुलसीं पश्चात्तौ पूजयेत्ततः ॥ रात्रौ जागरणं कुर्याद्विवाहोत्सवपूर्वकम्

evaṁ dattvā ca tulasīṁ paścāttau pūjayettataḥ || rātrau jāgaraṇaṁ kuryādvivāhotsavapūrvakam

Having thus given Tulasi, one should then worship both of them. At night, one should keep vigil, in the manner of a marriage celebration.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.128.26)

ततः प्रभातसमये तुलसीं विष्णुमर्चयेत् ॥ वह्निसंस्थापनं कृत्वा द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया

tataḥ prabhātasamaye tulasīṁ viṣṇumarcayet || vahnisaṁsthāpanaṁ kṛtvā dvādaśākṣaravidyayā

Then, at dawn, one should worship Tulasi and Vishnu. Having established the sacred fire, with the twelve-syllabled mantra,

Verse 27 (skanda.2.128.27)

पायसाऽऽज्यक्षौद्रतिलैर्जुह्यादष्टोत्तरंशतम् ॥ ततः स्विष्टकृतं हुत्वा दद्यात्पूर्णाहुतिं ततः

pāyasā'ājyakṣaudratilairjuhyādaṣṭottaraṁśatam || tataḥ sviṣṭakṛtaṁ hutvā dadyātpūrṇāhutiṁ tataḥ

one should offer a hundred and eight oblations of rice-pudding, ghee, honey, and sesame. Then, having offered the Svishtakrit oblation, one should give the final full oblation.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.128.28)

आचार्यं च समभ्यर्च्य होमशेषं समापयेत् ॥ चतुरो वार्षिकान्मासान्नियमो येन यः कृतः

ācāryaṁ ca samabhyarcya homaśeṣaṁ samāpayet || caturo vārṣikānmāsānniyamo yena yaḥ kṛtaḥ

Having worshipped the officiating priest, one should complete the remainder of the fire-rite. Whatever discipline anyone has observed during the four months of the rainy-season vow —

Verse 29 (skanda.2.128.29)

कथयित्वा द्विजेभ्यस्तत्तथाऽन्यत्परिपूरयेत् ॥ इदं व्रतं मया देव कृतं प्रीत्यै तव प्रभो

kathayitvā dvijebhyastattathā'anyatparipūrayet || idaṁ vrataṁ mayā deva kṛtaṁ prītyai tava prabho

let him declare it to the brahmins, and complete it in that manner or another. (Let him say:) "O God, O Lord, I have performed this vow for your pleasure.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.128.30)

न्यूनं संपूर्णतां यातु त्वत्प्रसादाज्जनार्दन ॥ रेवतीतुर्यचरणे द्वादशीसंयुते नरः

nyūnaṁ saṁpūrṇatāṁ yātu tvatprasādājjanārdana || revatīturyacaraṇe dvādaśīsaṁyute naraḥ

Whatever is lacking, may it become complete by your grace, O Janardana." When, in the fourth quarter of the Revati nakshatra, joined with the twelfth tithi, a man —

Verse 31 (skanda.2.128.31)

न कुर्यात्पारणं कुर्वन्व्रतं निष्फलतां नयेत् ॥ ततो येषां पदार्थानां वर्जनं तु कृतं भवेत्

na kuryātpāraṇaṁ kurvanvrataṁ niṣphalatāṁ nayet || tato yeṣāṁ padārthānāṁ varjanaṁ tu kṛtaṁ bhavet

should not break the fast; if he does, he renders the vow fruitless. Then whatever items had been given up during the vow —

Verse 32 (skanda.2.128.32)

चातुर्मास्येऽथवा चोर्जे ब्राह्मणेभ्यः समर्पयेत् ॥ ततः सर्वं समश्नीयाद्यद्यत्त्यक्तं व्रते स्थितः

cāturmāsye'thavā corje brāhmaṇebhyaḥ samarpayet || tataḥ sarvaṁ samaśnīyādyadyattyaktaṁ vrate sthitaḥ

whether during the four rainy months or during Kartika, should be offered to brahmins. Then he may eat all those things that had been given up while keeping the vow.

Verse 33 (skanda.2.128.33)

दंपतिभ्यां सहैवाऽत्र भोक्तव्यं च द्विजैः सह ॥ ततो भुक्त्युत्तरं यानि गलितानि दलानि च

daṁpatibhyāṁ sahaivā'atra bhoktavyaṁ ca dvijaiḥ saha || tato bhuktyuttaraṁ yāni galitāni dalāni ca

Here, both husband and wife should eat together with the brahmins. Then, after eating, whatever leaves had fallen away —

Verse 34 (skanda.2.128.34)

तानि भुक्त्वा तुलस्याश्च स्वयं पापैः प्रमुच्यते ॥ इक्षुदण्डं तथा धात्रीफलं कोलिफलं तथा

tāni bhuktvā tulasyāśca svayaṁ pāpaiḥ pramucyate || ikṣudaṇḍaṁ tathā dhātrīphalaṁ koliphalaṁ tathā

eating these leaves of Tulasi, a man is himself freed from sin. Likewise, sugarcane, amla fruit, and jujube fruit —

Verse 35 (skanda.2.128.35)

भुक्त्वा तु भोजनस्यांऽते तस्योच्छिष्टं विनश्यति ॥ एषु त्रिषु न भुक्तं चेदेकैकमपि येन तु

bhuktvā tu bhojanasyāṁte tasyocchiṣṭaṁ vinaśyati || eṣu triṣu na bhuktaṁ cedekaikamapi yena tu

eating these at the end of the meal destroys the fault of leftover food. If even one of these three has not been eaten by someone,

Verse 36 (skanda.2.128.36)

ज्ञेय उच्छिष्ट आवर्षं नरोऽसौ नाऽत्र संशयः ॥ ततः सायं पुनः पूज्याविक्षुदण्डैश्च शोभितौ

jñeya ucchiṣṭa āvarṣaṁ naro'sau nā'atra saṁśayaḥ || tataḥ sāyaṁ punaḥ pūjyāvikṣudaṇḍaiśca śobhitau

then, without doubt, that man is deemed unpurified for a whole year. Then, in the evening, both Tulasi and Keshava should again be worshipped, adorned with stalks of sugarcane.

Verse 37 (skanda.2.128.37)

तुलसीवासुदेवौ च कृतकृत्यो भवेत्ततः ॥ ततो विसर्जनं कृत्वा दत्त्वा दायादिकं हरेः

tulasīvāsudevau ca kṛtakṛtyo bhavettataḥ || tato visarjanaṁ kṛtvā dattvā dāyādikaṁ hareḥ

Thus, having worshipped Tulasi and Vasudeva, a man becomes fulfilled in his purpose. Then, having performed the send-off, and given Hari the customary bridal gifts,

Verse 38 (skanda.2.128.38)

वैकुण्ठं गच्छ भगवँस्तुलसीसहितः प्रभो ॥ मत्कृतं पूजनं गृह्य संतुष्टो भव सर्वदा

vaikuṇṭhaṁ gaccha bhagavaṁstulasīsahitaḥ prabho || matkṛtaṁ pūjanaṁ gṛhya saṁtuṣṭo bhava sarvadā

(let him say:) "Go to Vaikuntha, O Blessed Lord, together with Tulasi, O Lord; accept the worship I have offered, and remain ever content.

Verse 39 (skanda.2.128.39)

गच्छगच्छ सुरश्रेष्ठ स्वस्थाने परमेश्वर ॥ यत्र ब्रह्मादयो देवास्तत्र गच्छ जनार्दन

gacchagaccha suraśreṣṭha svasthāne parameśvara || yatra brahmādayo devāstatra gaccha janārdana

Go, go, O foremost of gods, O supreme Lord, to your own abode; go, O Janardana, to where Brahma and the other gods dwell."

Verse 40 (skanda.2.128.40)

एवं विसृज्य देवेशमाचार्याय प्रदापयेत् ॥ मूर्त्यादिकं सर्वमेव कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नरः

evaṁ visṛjya deveśamācāryāya pradāpayet || mūrtyādikaṁ sarvameva kṛtakṛtyo bhavennaraḥ

Having thus taken leave of the Lord of gods, one should give the image and everything else to the officiating priest; thus a man becomes fulfilled in his purpose.

Verse 41 (skanda.2.128.41)

प्रतिवर्षं तु यः कुर्यात्तुलसीकरपीडनम् ॥ भक्तिमान्धनधान्यैः स युक्तो भवति निश्चितम् ॥ इहलोके परत्राऽपि विपुलं च यशो लभेत्

prativarṣaṁ tu yaḥ kuryāttulasīkarapīḍanam || bhaktimāndhanadhānyaiḥ sa yukto bhavati niścitam || ihaloke paratrā'api vipulaṁ ca yaśo labhet

Whoever, devoted, performs Tulasi's marriage every year, certainly becomes endowed with wealth and grain, and attains abundant fame both in this world and the next.