The Glory of Tulasi Leaves and Wood, and the Pilgrimage to Dvaraka with Bali

Verse 1 (skanda.7.490.1)

प्रह्लाद उवाच । सावित्रीं च भवानीं च दुर्गां चैव सरस्वतीम् । योऽर्चयेत्तुलसीपत्रैः सर्वकामसमन्वितः ॥ १ ॥

prahlāda uvāca | sāvitrīṁ ca bhavānīṁ ca durgāṁ caiva sarasvatīm | yo'rcayettulasīpatraiḥ sarvakāmasamanvitaḥ || 1 ||

Prahlada said: Whoever worships Savitri, Bhavani, Durga, and Sarasvati with Tulasi leaves has all his desires fulfilled.

Verse 2 (skanda.7.490.2)

गृहीत्वा तुलसीपत्रं भक्त्या विष्णुं समर्चयेत् । अर्चितं तेन सकलं सदेवासुरमानुषम् ॥ २ ॥

gṛhītvā tulasīpatraṁ bhaktyā viṣṇuṁ samarcayet | arcitaṁ tena sakalaṁ sadevāsuramānuṣam || 2 ||

Taking a Tulasi leaf, whoever worships Vishnu with devotion — by him the entire world, with its gods, demons, and men, is worshipped.

Verse 3 (skanda.7.490.3)

चतुर्द्दश्यां महेशानं पौर्णमास्यां पितामहम् । येऽर्चयन्ति च सप्तम्यां तुलस्या च गणाधिपम् ॥ ३ ॥

caturddaśyāṁ maheśānaṁ paurṇamāsyāṁ pitāmaham | ye'rcayanti ca saptamyāṁ tulasyā ca gaṇādhipam || 3 ||

Those who worship Mahesha with Tulasi on the fourteenth day, the Grandsire on the full moon, and the lord of the Ganas on the seventh day,

Verse 4 (skanda.7.490.4)

शंखोदकं तीर्थवराद्वरिष्ठं पादोदकं तीर्थवराद्वरिष्ठम् । नैवेद्यशेषं क्रतुकोटितुल्यं निर्माल्यशेषं व्रतदानतुल्यम् ॥ ४ ॥

śaṅkhodakaṁ tīrthavarādvariṣṭhaṁ pādodakaṁ tīrthavarādvariṣṭham | naivedyaśeṣaṁ kratukoṭitulyaṁ nirmālyaśeṣaṁ vratadānatulyam || 4 ||

The water from a conch is superior even to the finest sacred ford; foot-water is superior even to the finest sacred ford; the remnant of a food-offering is equal to a crore sacrifices; the remnant of discarded flowers is equal to a vow of charity.

Verse 5 (skanda.7.490.5)

मुकुन्दाशनशेषं तु यो भुनक्ति दिनेदिने । सिक्थेसिक्थे भवेत्पुण्यं चान्द्रायणशताधिकम् ॥ ५ ॥

mukundāśanaśeṣaṁ tu yo bhunakti dinedine | sikthesikthe bhavetpuṇyaṁ cāndrāyaṇaśatādhikam || 5 ||

Whoever daily partakes of the remnant of Mukunda's food obtains, with every single grain, merit exceeding a hundred Chandrayana vows.

Verse 6 (skanda.7.490.6)

नैवेद्यशेषं तुलसीविमिश्रं विशेषतः पादजलेन विष्णोः । योऽश्नाति नित्यं पुरुषो मुरारेः प्राप्नोति यज्ञायुतकोटिपुण्यम् ॥ ६ ॥

naivedyaśeṣaṁ tulasīvimiśraṁ viśeṣataḥ pādajalena viṣṇoḥ | yo'śnāti nityaṁ puruṣo murāreḥ prāpnoti yajñāyutakoṭipuṇyam || 6 ||

The man who daily partakes of the remnant of Murari's food-offering mixed with Tulasi, especially together with Vishnu's foot-water, obtains the merit of ten thousand crore sacrifices.

Verse 7 (skanda.7.490.7)

यः श्राद्धकाले हरिभुक्तशेषं ददाति भक्त्या पितृदेवतानाम् । तेनैव पिंडात्सुतिलैर्विमिश्रादाकल्पकोटिं पितरः सुतृप्ताः ॥ ७ ॥

yaḥ śrāddhakāle haribhuktaśeṣaṁ dadāti bhaktyā pitṛdevatānām | tenaiva piṇḍātsutilairvimiśrādākalpakoṭiṁ pitaraḥ sutṛptāḥ || 7 ||

Whoever, at the time of the ancestral rite, offers with devotion the remnant of Hari's food, mixed with sesame in the rice-ball, to the ancestral deities — by that alone the ancestors remain fully satisfied until the end of the age.

Verse 8 (skanda.7.490.8)

स्नानार्चनक्रियाकाले घंटावाद्यं करोति यः । पुरतो वासुदेवस्य गवां कोटिफलं लभेत् ॥ ८ ॥

snānārcanakriyākāle ghaṇṭāvādyaṁ karoti yaḥ | purato vāsudevasya gavāṁ koṭiphalaṁ labhet || 8 ||

Whoever rings the bell before Vasudeva at the time of the bathing and worship rites obtains the fruit of gifting a crore cows.

Verse 9 (skanda.7.490.9)

सर्ववाद्यमयी घंटा केशवस्य सदा प्रिया । वादनाल्लभते पुण्यं यज्ञकोटिफलं नरः ॥ ९ ॥

sarvavādyamayī ghaṇṭā keśavasya sadā priyā | vādanāllabhate puṇyaṁ yajñakoṭiphalaṁ naraḥ || 9 ||

The bell embodies all musical instruments and is ever dear to Keshava. By ringing it, a man obtains merit equal to the fruit of a crore sacrifices.

Verse 10 (skanda.7.490.10)

वादित्राणामभावे तु पूजाकाले च सर्वदा । घंटावाद्यं नरैः कार्य्यं सर्ववाद्यमयी यतः ॥ १० ॥

vāditrāṇāmabhāve tu pūjākāle ca sarvadā | ghaṇṭāvādyaṁ narairkāryaṁ sarvavādyamayī yataḥ || 10 ||

In the absence of instruments, at the time of worship, men should always ring the bell, since it embodies all musical instruments.

Verse 11 (skanda.7.490.11)

तुलसीकाष्ठसंभूतं चन्दनं यच्छते हरेः । निर्द्दहेत्पातकं सर्वं पूर्वजन्मशतार्जितम् ॥ ११ ॥

tulasīkāṣṭhasaṁbhūtaṁ candanaṁ yacchate hareḥ | nirddahetpātakaṁ sarvaṁ pūrvajanmaśatārjitam || 11 ||

Whoever offers to Hari sandal-paste made from Tulasi wood burns away all sin accumulated over a hundred former births.

Verse 12 (skanda.7.490.12)

ददाति पितृ पिंडेषु तुलसीकाष्ठचन्दनम् । पितॄणां जायते तृप्तिर्गयाश्राद्धेन वै तथा ॥ १२ ॥

dadāti pitṛpiṇḍeṣu tulasīkāṣṭhacandanam | pitṝṇāṁ jāyate tṛptirgayāśrāddhena vai tathā || 12 ||

Whoever offers Tulasi-wood sandal-paste in the ancestral rice-balls grants his ancestors the same satisfaction as is obtained through the ancestral rite at Gaya.

Verse 13 (skanda.7.490.13)

सर्वेषामेव देवानां तुलसीकाष्ठचन्दनम् । पितॄणां च विशेषेण सदाऽभीष्टं हरेः कलौ ॥ १३ ॥

sarveṣāmeva devānāṁ tulasīkāṣṭhacandanam | pitṝṇāṁ ca viśeṣeṇa sadā'bhīṣṭaṁ hareḥ kalau || 13 ||

Sandal-paste of Tulasi wood is ever dear to all the gods, and especially to the ancestors, and in the Kali age it is desired by Hari as well.

Verse 14 (skanda.7.490.14)

हरेर्भागवता भूत्वा तुलसीकाष्ठचन्दनम् । नार्पयति सदा विष्णोर्न ते भागवताः कलौ ॥ १४ ॥

harerbhāgavatā bhūtvā tulasīkāṣṭhacandanam | nārpayati sadā viṣṇorna te bhāgavatāḥ kalau || 14 ||

Those who, though calling themselves devotees of Hari, do not always offer Tulasi-wood sandal-paste to Vishnu are not true devotees in the Kali age.

Verse 15 (skanda.7.490.15)

शरीरं दह्यते यस्य तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना । नीयमानो यमेनापि विष्णुलोकं स गच्छति ॥ १५ ॥

śarīraṁ dahyate yasya tulasīkāṣṭhavahninā | nīyamāno yamenāpi viṣṇulokaṁ sa gacchati || 15 ||

He whose body is cremated with the fire of Tulasi wood, even while being led away by Yama, goes to the world of Vishnu.

Verse 16 (skanda.7.490.16)

यद्येकं तुलसीकाष्ठं मध्ये काष्ठस्य यस्य हि । दाहकाले भवेन्मुक्तः पापकोटिशतायुतैः ॥ १६ ॥

yadyekaṁ tulasīkāṣṭhaṁ madhye kāṣṭhasya yasya hi | dāhakāle bhavenmuktaḥ pāpakoṭiśatāyutaiḥ || 16 ||

If even a single piece of Tulasi wood is placed amidst the wood of one's funeral pyre, he is freed, at the very time of cremation, from hundreds of crores of sins.

Verse 17 (skanda.7.490.17)

दह्यमानं नरं दृष्ट्वा तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना । जन्मकोटिसहस्रैस्तु तोषितस्तैर्जनार्दनः ॥ १७ ॥

dahyamānaṁ naraṁ dṛṣṭvā tulasīkāṣṭhavahninā | janmakoṭisahasraistu toṣitastairjanārdanaḥ || 17 ||

Beholding a man being cremated with the fire of Tulasi wood, Janardana becomes pleased as if for thousands of crores of births.

Verse 18 (skanda.7.490.18)

दह्यमानं नरं सर्वे तुलसीकाष्ठवह्निना । विमानस्थाः सुरगणाः क्षिपंति कुसुमांजलीन् ॥ १८ ॥

dahyamānaṁ naraṁ sarve tulasīkāṣṭhavahninā | vimānasthāḥ suragaṇāḥ kṣipaṁti kusumāṁjalīn || 18 ||

Upon that man being cremated with the fire of Tulasi wood, all the hosts of gods, stationed in their celestial chariots, shower handfuls of flowers.

Verse 19 (skanda.7.490.19)

नृत्यंत्योऽप्सरसो हृष्टा गीतं गायन्ति सुस्वरम् । ज्वलते यत्र दैत्येन्द्र तुलसीकाष्ठपावकः ॥ १९ ॥

nṛtyaṁtyo'psaraso hṛṣṭā gītaṁ gāyaṁti susvaram | jvalate yatra daityendra tulasīkāṣṭhapāvakaḥ || 19 ||

O lord of the demons, where the fire of Tulasi wood blazes, there the joyful celestial nymphs dance and sing sweet songs.

Verse 20 (skanda.7.490.20)

कुरुते वीक्षणं विष्णुः सन्तुष्टः सह शंभुना ॥ २० ॥

kurute vīkṣaṇaṁ viṣṇuḥ saṁtuṣṭaḥ saha śaṁbhunā || 20 ||

The satisfied Vishnu, together with Shambhu, casts his gaze upon him.

Verse 21 (skanda.7.490.21)

गृहीत्वा तं करे शौरिः पुरुषं स्वयमग्रतः । मार्जते तस्य पापानि पश्यतां त्रिदिवौकसाम् । महोत्सवं च कृत्वा तु जयशब्दपुरःसरम् ॥ २१ ॥

gṛhītvā taṁ kare śauriḥ puruṣaṁ svayamagrataḥ | mārjate tasya pāpāni paśyatāṁ tridivaukasām | mahotsavaṁ ca kṛtvā tu jayaśabdapuraḥsaram || 21 ||

Shauri (Vishnu) Himself, taking that man in His hand and placing him before Him, in the sight of the dwellers of heaven, amid great festivity preceded by shouts of victory, wipes away his sins.

Verse 22 (skanda.7.490.22)

सूत उवाच । प्रह्लादेनोदितं श्रुत्वा माहात्म्यं द्वारकाभवम् । प्रहृष्टा ऋषयः सर्वे तथा दैत्येश्वरो बलिः ॥ २२ ॥

sūta uvāca | prahlādenoditaṁ śrutvā māhātmyaṁ dvārakābhavam | prahṛṣṭā ṛṣayaḥ sarve tathā daityeśvaro baliḥ || 22 ||

Suta said: Hearing this glory of Dvaraka spoken by Prahlada, all the sages, and likewise Bali, the lord of the demons, were greatly delighted.

Verse 23 (skanda.7.490.23)

ततः सर्वेऽभिनन्द्यैनं प्रह्लादं दैत्यपुङ्गवम् । उद्युक्ता द्वारकां गत्वा द्रष्टुं कृष्णमुखाम्बुजम् ॥ २३ ॥

tataḥ sarve'bhinandyainaṁ prahlādaṁ daityapuṁgavam | udyuktā dvārakāṁ gatvā draṣṭuṁ kṛṣṇamukhāmbujam || 23 ||

Then all, having congratulated that foremost of demons, Prahlada, prepared to go to Dvaraka to behold the lotus face of Krishna.

Verse 24 (skanda.7.490.24)

ततस्ते बलिना सार्धं मुनयः संशितव्रताः । आगत्य द्वारकां स्नात्वा गोमत्यां विधिपूर्वकम् ॥ २४ ॥

tataste balinā sārdhaṁ munayaḥ saṁśitavratāḥ | āgatya dvārakāṁ snātvā gomatyāṁ vidhipūrvakam || 24 ||

Then those sages, of rigorous vows, together with Bali, coming to Dvaraka and duly bathing in the Gomati,

Verse 25 (skanda.7.490.25)

कृष्णं दृष्ट्वा समभ्यर्च्य कृत्वा यात्रां यथाविधि । दत्त्वा दानानि बहुशः कृतकृत्यास्ततोऽभवन् ॥ २५ ॥

kṛṣṇaṁ dṛṣṭvā samabhyarcya kṛtvā yātrāṁ yathāvidhi | dattvā dānāni bahuśaḥ kṛtakṛtyāstato'bhavan || 25 ||

Beholding Krishna, worshipping Him well, duly completing their pilgrimage, and giving many gifts, they thereupon became fulfilled.

Verse 26 (skanda.7.490.26)

जग्मुः स्वीयानि स्थानानि बलिः पातालमाययौ । प्रह्लादं च प्रणम्याशु मेने स्वस्य कृतार्थताम् ॥ २६ ॥

jagmuḥ svīyāni sthānāni baliḥ pātālamāyayau | prahlādaṁ ca praṇamyāśu mene svasya kṛtārthatām || 26 ||

They went each to their own abodes; Bali went to the netherworld, and, having swiftly bowed to Prahlada, deemed his purpose fulfilled.