Ninth Skandha · Chapter 15
Sourceनारद उवाच नारायणप्रिया साध्वी कथं सा च बभूव ह । तुलसी कुत्र सम्भूता का वा सा पूर्वजन्मनि ॥ १ ॥ कस्य वा सा कुले जाता कस्य कन्या कुले सती । केन वा तपसा सा च सम्प्राप्ता प्रकृतेः परम् ॥ २ ॥ निर्विकारं निरीहं च सर्वविश्वस्वरूपकम् । नारायणं परं ब्रह्म परमेश्वरमीश्वरम् ॥ ३ ॥ सर्वाराध्यं च सर्वेशं सर्वज्ञं सर्वकारणम् । सर्वाधारं सर्वरूपं सर्वेषां परिपालकम् ॥ ४ ॥ कथमेतादृशी देवी वृक्षत्वं समवाप ह । कथं साप्यसुरग्रस्ता सम्बभूव तपस्विनी ॥ ५ ॥ सुस्निग्धं मे मनो लोलं प्रेरयन्मां मुहुर्मुहुः । छेत्तुमर्हसि सन्देहं सर्वं सन्देहभञ्जन ॥ ६ ॥ श्रीनारायण उवाच मनुश्च दक्षसावर्णिः पुण्यवान् वैष्णवः शुचिः । यशस्वी कीर्तिमांश्चैव विष्णोरंशसमुद्भवः ॥ ७ ॥ तत्पुत्रो ब्रह्मसावर्णिर्धर्मिष्ठो वैष्णवः शुचिः । तत्पुत्रो धर्मसावर्णिर्वैष्णवश्च जितेन्द्रियः ॥ ८ ॥ तत्पुत्रो रुद्रसावर्णिर्भक्तिमान्विजितेन्द्रियः । तत्पुत्रो देवसावर्णिर्विष्णुव्रतपरायणः ॥ ९ ॥ तत्पुत्र इन्द्रसावर्णिर्महाविष्णुपरायणः । वृषध्वजश्च तत्पुत्रो वृषध्वजपरायणः ॥ १० ॥ (वृक्षध्वज पाठभेद) यस्याश्रमे स्वयं शम्भुरासीद्देवयुगत्रयम् । पुत्रादपि परः स्नेहो नृपे तस्मिञ्छिवस्य च ॥ ११ ॥ न च नारायणं मेने न लक्ष्मीं न सरस्वतीम् । पूजां च सर्वदेवानां दूरीभूता चकार सः ॥ १२ ॥ भाद्रे मासि महालक्ष्मीपूजां मत्तो बभञ्ज ह । तथा माघीयपञ्चम्यां विस्मृता सर्वदैवतैः ॥ १३ ॥ पापः सरस्वतीपूजां दूरीभूता चकार सः । यज्ञं च विष्णुपूजां च निन्दन्तं तं दिवाकरः ॥ १४ ॥ चुकोप देवो भूपेन्द्रं शशाप शिवकारणात् । भ्रष्टश्रीस्त्वञ्च भवेति तं शशाप दिवाकरः ॥ १५ ॥ शूलं गृहीत्वा तं सूर्यमधावच्छङ्करः स्वयम् । पित्रा सार्धं दिनेशश्च ब्रह्माणं शरणं ययौ ॥ १६ ॥ शिवस्त्रिशूलहस्तश्च ब्रह्मलोकं ययौ क्रुधा । ब्रह्मा सूर्यं पुरस्कृत्य वैकुण्ठं च ययौ भिया ॥ १७ ॥ ब्रह्मकश्यपमार्तण्डाः सन्त्रस्ताः शुष्कतालुकाः । नारायणं च सर्वेशं ते ययुः शरणं भिया ॥ १८ ॥ मूर्छा प्रणेमुस्ते गत्वा तुष्टुवुश्च पुनः पुनः । सर्वं निवेदनं चक्रुर्भयस्य कारणं हरौ ॥ १९ ॥ नारायणश्च कृपया तेभ्यश्च ह्यभयं ददौ । स्थिरा भवत हे भीता भयं किञ्च मयि स्थिते ॥ २० ॥ स्मरन्ति ये यत्र तत्र मां विपत्तौ भयान्विताः । तांस्तत्र गत्वा रक्षामि चक्रहस्तस्त्वरान्वितः ॥ २१ ॥ पाताहं जगतां देवाः कर्ता च सततं सदा । स्रष्टा च ब्रह्मरूपेण संहर्ता शिवरूपतः ॥ २२ ॥ शिवोऽहं त्वमहं चापि सूर्योऽहं त्रिगुणात्मकः । विधाय नानारूपं च करोमि सृष्टिपालनम् ॥ २३ ॥ यूयं गच्छत भद्रं वो भविष्यति भयं कुतः । अद्यप्रभृति मद्वरेण भयं वो नास्ति शङ्करात् ॥ २४ ॥ सर्वेशो वै स भगवाच्छङ्करश्च सतां पतिः । भक्ताधीनश्च भक्तानां भक्तात्मा भक्तवत्सलः ॥ २५ ॥ सुदर्शनः शिवश्चैव मम प्राणाधिकः प्रियः । ब्रह्माण्डेषु न तेजस्वी हे ब्रह्मन्ननयोः परः ॥ २६ ॥ शक्तः स्रष्टुं महादेवः सूर्यकोटिं च लीलया । कोटिं च ब्रह्मणामेवं नासाध्यं शूलिनः प्रभोः ॥ २७ ॥ बाह्यज्ञानं नैव किञ्चिद्ध्यायते मां दिवानिशम् । मन्मन्त्रान्मद्गुणान्भक्त्या पञ्चवक्त्रेण गायति ॥ २८ ॥ अहमेवं चिन्तयामि तत्कल्याणं दिवानिशम् । ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ॥ २९ ॥ शिवस्वरूपो भगवाञ्छिवाधिष्ठातृदेवता । शिवं भवति तस्माच्च शिवं तेन विदुर्बुधाः ॥ ३० ॥ एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र जगाम शङ्करः स्थितः । शूलहस्तो वृषारूढो रक्तपङ्कजलोचनः ॥ ३१ ॥ अवरुह्य वृषात्तूर्णं भक्तिनम्रात्मकन्धरः । ननाम भक्त्या तं शान्तं लक्ष्मीकान्तं परात्परम् ॥ ३२ ॥ रत्नसिंहासनस्थं च रत्नालङ्कारभूषितम् । किरीटिनं कुण्डलिनं चक्रिणं वनमालिनम् ॥ ३३ ॥ नवीननीरदश्यामं सुन्दरं च चतुर्भुजम् । चतुर्भुजैः सेवितं च श्वेतचामरवायुना ॥ ३४ ॥ चन्दनोक्षितसर्वाङ्गं भूषितं पीतवाससम् । लक्ष्मीप्रदत्तताम्बूलं भुक्तवन्तं च नारद ॥ ३५ ॥ विद्याधरीनृत्यगीतं पश्यन्तं सस्मितं सदा । ईश्वरं परमात्मानं भक्तानुग्रहविग्रहम् ॥ ३६ ॥ तं ननाम महादेवो ब्रह्मणा नमितश्च सः । ननाम सूर्यो भक्त्या च सन्त्रस्तश्चन्द्रशेखरम् ॥ ३७ ॥ कश्यपश्च महाभक्त्या तुष्टाव च ननाम च । शिवः संस्तूय सर्वेशं समुवास सुखासने ॥ ३८ ॥ सुखासने सुखासीनं विश्रान्तं चन्द्रशेखरम् । श्वेतचामरवातेन सेवितं विष्णुपार्षदैः ॥ ३९ ॥ पीयूषतुल्यमधुरं वचनं सुमनोहरम् । विष्णुरुवाच आगतोऽसि कथं चात्र वद कोपस्य कारणम् ॥ ४० ॥ महादेव उवाच वृषध्वजं च मद्भक्तं मम प्राणाधिकं प्रियम् । सूर्यः शशाप इति मे प्रकोपस्य तु कारणम् ॥ ४१ ॥ पुत्रवत्सलशोकेन सूर्यं हन्तुं समुद्यतः । स ब्रह्माणं प्रपन्नश्च सूर्यश्च स विधिस्त्वयि ॥ ४२ ॥ त्वयि ये शरणापन्ना ध्यानेन वचसापि वा । निरापदो विशङ्कास्ते जरा मृत्युश्च तैर्जितः ॥ ४३ ॥ प्रत्यक्षं शरणापन्नास्तत्फलं किं वदामि भोः । हरिस्मृतिश्चाभयदा सर्वमङ्गलदा सदा ॥ ४४ ॥ किं मे भक्तस्य भविता तन्मे ब्रूहि जगत्प्रभो । श्रीहतस्यास्य मूढस्य सूर्यशापेन हेतुना ॥ ४५ ॥ विष्णुरुवाच कालोऽतियातो दैवेन युगानामेकविंशतिः । वैकुण्ठं घटिकार्धेन शीघ्रं गच्छ त्वमालयम् ॥ ४६ ॥ वृषध्वजो मृतः कालाद्दुर्निवार्यात्सुदारुणात् । रथध्वजश्च तत्पुत्रो मृतः सोऽपि श्रिया हतः ॥ ४७ ॥ तत्पुत्रौ च महाभागौ धर्मध्वजकुशध्वजौ । हृतश्रियौ सूर्यशापात्स्मृतौ परमवैष्णवौ ॥ ४८ ॥ राज्यभ्रष्टौ श्रिया भ्रष्टौ कमलातपसा रतौ । तयोश्च भार्ययोर्लक्ष्मीः कलया च भविष्यति ॥ ४९ ॥ सम्पद्युक्तौ तदा तौ च नृपश्रेष्ठौ भविष्यतः । मृतस्ते सेवकः शम्भो गच्छ यूयं च गच्छत ॥ ५० ॥ इत्युक्त्वा च सलक्ष्मीकः सभातोऽभ्यन्तरंगतः । देवा जग्मुः सम्प्रहृष्टाः स्वाश्रमं परया मुदा । शिवश्च तपसे शीघ्रं परिपूर्णतमो ययौ ॥ ५१ ॥
nārada uvāca nārāyaṇapriyā sādhvī kathaṃ sā ca babhūva ha | tulasī kutra sambhūtā kā vā sā pūrvajanmani || 1 || kasya vā sā kule jātā kasya kanyā kule satī | kena vā tapasā sā ca samprāptā prakṛteḥ param || 2 || nirvikāraṃ nirīhaṃ ca sarvaviśvasvarūpakam | nārāyaṇaṃ paraṃ brahma parameśvaramīśvaram || 3 || sarvārādhyaṃ ca sarveśaṃ sarvajñaṃ sarvakāraṇam | sarvādhāraṃ sarvarūpaṃ sarveṣāṃ paripālakam || 4 || kathametādṛśī devī vṛkṣatvaṃ samavāpa ha | kathaṃ sāpyasuragrastā sambabhūva tapasvinī || 5 || susnigdhaṃ me mano lolaṃ prerayanmāṃ muhurmuhuḥ | chettumarhasi sandehaṃ sarvaṃ sandehabhañjana || 6 || śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca manuśca dakṣasāvarṇiḥ puṇyavān vaiṣṇavaḥ śuciḥ | yaśasvī kīrtimāṃścaiva viṣṇoraṃśasamudbhavaḥ || 7 || tatputro brahmasāvarṇirdharmiṣṭho vaiṣṇavaḥ śuciḥ | tatputro dharmasāvarṇirvaiṣṇavaśca jitendriyaḥ || 8 || tatputro rudrasāvarṇirbhaktimānvijitendriyaḥ | tatputro devasāvarṇirviṣṇuvrataparāyaṇaḥ || 9 || tatputra indrasāvarṇirmahāviṣṇuparāyaṇaḥ | vṛṣadhvajaśca tatputro vṛṣadhvajaparāyaṇaḥ || 10 || (vṛkṣadhvaja pāṭhabheda) yasyāśrame svayaṃ śambhurāsīddevayugatrayam | putrādapi paraḥ sneho nṛpe tasmiñchivasya ca || 11 || na ca nārāyaṇaṃ mene na lakṣmīṃ na sarasvatīm | pūjāṃ ca sarvadevānāṃ dūrībhūtā cakāra saḥ || 12 || bhādre māsi mahālakṣmīpūjāṃ matto babhañja ha | tathā māghīyapañcamyāṃ vismṛtā sarvadaivataiḥ || 13 || pāpaḥ sarasvatīpūjāṃ dūrībhūtā cakāra saḥ | yajñaṃ ca viṣṇupūjāṃ ca nindantaṃ taṃ divākaraḥ || 14 || cukopa devo bhūpendraṃ śaśāpa śivakāraṇāt | bhraṣṭaśrīstvañca bhaveti taṃ śaśāpa divākaraḥ || 15 || śūlaṃ gṛhītvā taṃ sūryamadhāvacchaṅkaraḥ svayam | pitrā sārdhaṃ dineśaśca brahmāṇaṃ śaraṇaṃ yayau || 16 || śivastriśūlahastaśca brahmalokaṃ yayau krudhā | brahmā sūryaṃ puraskṛtya vaikuṇṭhaṃ ca yayau bhiyā || 17 || brahmakaśyapamārtaṇḍāḥ santrastāḥ śuṣkatālukāḥ | nārāyaṇaṃ ca sarveśaṃ te yayuḥ śaraṇaṃ bhiyā || 18 || mūrchā praṇemuste gatvā tuṣṭuvuśca punaḥ punaḥ | sarvaṃ nivedanaṃ cakrurbhayasya kāraṇaṃ harau || 19 || nārāyaṇaśca kṛpayā tebhyaśca hyabhayaṃ dadau | sthirā bhavata he bhītā bhayaṃ kiñca mayi sthite || 20 || smaranti ye yatra tatra māṃ vipattau bhayānvitāḥ | tāṃstatra gatvā rakṣāmi cakrahastastvarānvitaḥ || 21 || pātāhaṃ jagatāṃ devāḥ kartā ca satataṃ sadā | sraṣṭā ca brahmarūpeṇa saṃhartā śivarūpataḥ || 22 || śivo'haṃ tvamahaṃ cāpi sūryo'haṃ triguṇātmakaḥ | vidhāya nānārūpaṃ ca karomi sṛṣṭipālanam || 23 || yūyaṃ gacchata bhadraṃ vo bhaviṣyati bhayaṃ kutaḥ | adyaprabhṛti madvareṇa bhayaṃ vo nāsti śaṅkarāt || 24 || sarveśo vai sa bhagavācchaṅkaraśca satāṃ patiḥ | bhaktādhīnaśca bhaktānāṃ bhaktātmā bhaktavatsalaḥ || 25 || sudarśanaḥ śivaścaiva mama prāṇādhikaḥ priyaḥ | brahmāṇḍeṣu na tejasvī he brahmannanayoḥ paraḥ || 26 || śaktaḥ sraṣṭuṃ mahādevaḥ sūryakoṭiṃ ca līlayā | koṭiṃ ca brahmaṇāmevaṃ nāsādhyaṃ śūlinaḥ prabhoḥ || 27 || bāhyajñānaṃ naiva kiñciddhyāyate māṃ divāniśam | manmantrānmadguṇānbhaktyā pañcavaktreṇa gāyati || 28 || ahamevaṃ cintayāmi tatkalyāṇaṃ divāniśam | ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃstathaiva bhajāmyaham || 29 || śivasvarūpo bhagavāñchivādhiṣṭhātṛdevatā | śivaṃ bhavati tasmācca śivaṃ tena vidurbudhāḥ || 30 || etasminnantare tatra jagāma śaṅkaraḥ sthitaḥ | śūlahasto vṛṣārūḍho raktapaṅkajalocanaḥ || 31 || avaruhya vṛṣāttūrṇaṃ bhaktinamrātmakandharaḥ | nanāma bhaktyā taṃ śāntaṃ lakṣmīkāntaṃ parātparam || 32 || ratnasiṃhāsanasthaṃ ca ratnālaṅkārabhūṣitam | kirīṭinaṃ kuṇḍalinaṃ cakriṇaṃ vanamālinam || 33 || navīnanīradaśyāmaṃ sundaraṃ ca caturbhujam | caturbhujaiḥ sevitaṃ ca śvetacāmaravāyunā || 34 || candanokṣitasarvāṅgaṃ bhūṣitaṃ pītavāsasam | lakṣmīpradattatāmbūlaṃ bhuktavantaṃ ca nārada || 35 || vidyādharīnṛtyagītaṃ paśyantaṃ sasmitaṃ sadā | īśvaraṃ paramātmānaṃ bhaktānugrahavigraham || 36 || taṃ nanāma mahādevo brahmaṇā namitaśca saḥ | nanāma sūryo bhaktyā ca santrastaścandraśekharam || 37 || kaśyapaśca mahābhaktyā tuṣṭāva ca nanāma ca | śivaḥ saṃstūya sarveśaṃ samuvāsa sukhāsane || 38 || sukhāsane sukhāsīnaṃ viśrāntaṃ candraśekharam | śvetacāmaravātena sevitaṃ viṣṇupārṣadaiḥ || 39 || pīyūṣatulyamadhuraṃ vacanaṃ sumanoharam | viṣṇuruvāca āgato'si kathaṃ cātra vada kopasya kāraṇam || 40 || mahādeva uvāca vṛṣadhvajaṃ ca madbhaktaṃ mama prāṇādhikaṃ priyam | sūryaḥ śaśāpa iti me prakopasya tu kāraṇam || 41 || putravatsalaśokena sūryaṃ hantuṃ samudyataḥ | sa brahmāṇaṃ prapannaśca sūryaśca sa vidhistvayi || 42 || tvayi ye śaraṇāpannā dhyānena vacasāpi vā | nirāpado viśaṅkāste jarā mṛtyuśca tairjitaḥ || 43 || pratyakṣaṃ śaraṇāpannāstatphalaṃ kiṃ vadāmi bhoḥ | harismṛtiścābhayadā sarvamaṅgaladā sadā || 44 || kiṃ me bhaktasya bhavitā tanme brūhi jagatprabho | śrīhatasyāsya mūḍhasya sūryaśāpena hetunā || 45 || viṣṇuruvāca kālo'tiyāto daivena yugānāmekaviṃśatiḥ | vaikuṇṭhaṃ ghaṭikārdhena śīghraṃ gaccha tvamālayam || 46 || vṛṣadhvajo mṛtaḥ kālāddurnivāryātsudāruṇāt | rathadhvajaśca tatputro mṛtaḥ so'pi śriyā hataḥ || 47 || tatputrau ca mahābhāgau dharmadhvajakuśadhvajau | hṛtaśriyau sūryaśāpātsmṛtau paramavaiṣṇavau || 48 || rājyabhraṣṭau śriyā bhraṣṭau kamalātapasā ratau | tayośca bhāryayorlakṣmīḥ kalayā ca bhaviṣyati || 49 || sampadyuktau tadā tau ca nṛpaśreṣṭhau bhaviṣyataḥ | mṛtaste sevakaḥ śambho gaccha yūyaṃ ca gacchata || 50 || ityuktvā ca salakṣmīkaḥ sabhāto'bhyantaraṃgataḥ | devā jagmuḥ samprahṛṣṭāḥ svāśramaṃ parayā mudā | śivaśca tapase śīghraṃ paripūrṇatamo yayau || 51 ||
English translation
1-6. Narada said O Bhagavan! How came the pure chaste Tulasi to be the wife of Narayana? Where was Her birth place? And what was She in Her previous birth? What family did She belong to? Whose daughter was She? And what austerities did She practise, that She got Narayana for Her husband, Who is above Prakriti, not liable to change without any effort, the Universal Self, Para Brahma and the Highest God; Who is the Lord of all, omniscient, the Cause of all, the Receptacle of all. Omnipresent, and the Preserver of all. And how did Tulasi, the chief Devi of Narayana, turn out into a tree? Herself quite innocent, how She was attacked by the fierce Asura? O Remover of all doubts! My mind, plain and simple, has become restless. I am eager to hear all this. So kindly cut asunder all my doubts.
7-40. Narayana said O Narada! The Manu Daksa Savarni was very religious, devoted to Visnu, of wide renown, of a great name, and born with Visnu's parts. Daksa Savarni’s son Brahma Savarni was also very religious, devoted to Visnu and of a pure S'uddha Sattva Guna. Brahma Savarni's son, Dharma Savarni was devoted to Visnu and He was the master of his senses. Dharma Savarni's sons Rudra Savarni was also a man of restraint and very devoted. Rudra Savarni's son was Deva Savarni, devoted to Visnu. Deva Savarni's son was Indra Savarni. He was a great Bhakta of Visnu. His son was Vrisadhvaja. But He was a fanatic S'aiva (devoted to S'iva). At his house S'iva Himself remained for three Yugas according to the Deva measure. So much so that Bhagavan Bhutanatha loved him more than His own son. Vrisadhvaja did not recognise Narayana, nor Laksmi nor Sarasvati nor another body. He discarded the worship of all the Devas. He worshipped S'ankara only. The greatly exciting Laksmi Puja (worship of Maha Laksmi) in the month of Bhadra and S’ri Pahchami Puja in the month of Magha,
which are approved of by the Vedas, Vrisadhvaja put an entire stop to these and the Sarasvati Puja. At this the Sun became angry with the King Vrisadhvaja, the discarder of the holy thread, the hater of Visnu, and cursed Him thus “O King! As you are purely devoted to S’iva and S’iva alone, and as you do not recognise any other Devas,
I say within no time, you will be deprived of all your wealth and prosperity.” S'ankara, hearing this curse, became very angry and taking His trident, ran after the Sun. The Sun, becoming afraid, accompanied His father Kas'yapa and took refuge of Brahma. Bhagavan S'ankara went to the Brahma Loka, with trident in His hands. Brahma became afraid of Mahadeva and took Sun to the region of Vaikuntha. Out of terror, the throats of Brahma, Kas'yapa, and Sun became parched and dry and they all went afraid for refuge to Narayana, the Lord of all. They all bowed down to Him and praised Him frequently and finally informed Him of the cause of their coming and why they were so much afraid. Narayana showed them mercy and granted them “Abhaya” (no fear). O You! Who are afraid, take rest. What cause of fear there can be to you, when I am here!
Whoever remembers Me, wherever he may be, involved in danger or fear, I go there with the Sudars'an disc in My hand and save him. O Devas! I am always the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of this universe. In the form of Visnu, I am the Preserver; in the form of Brahma, I am the Creator; and in the form of Mahes'a, I am the Destroyer. I am S’iva; I am you; and I am the Surya, composed of the three qualities. It is I who assumes many forms and preserves the universe. Better go to your respective places. What fear can ye suspect? I say, all your fears due to S'ankara, are verily removed from this day. Bhagavan S'ankara, the Lord of all, is the Lord of the Sadhus. He always hears the words of His Bhaktas; and He is kind to them. He is their Self. Both the Sun and S’iva are dearer to Me than My life. No one is more energetic than S'ankara and the Sun. Mahadeva can easily create ten million Suns and ten million Brahmas. There is nothing impossible with S'ulapani. Having no
consciousness of any outer thing, immersed, day and night, in meditating on Me with His whole heart concentrated. He is repeating with devotion My Mantra from His five faces and He always sings My glories. I am also thinking, day and night, of His welfare. Whoever worships Me in whichever way, I also favour him similarly. Bhagavan Maha Deva is of the nature of S’iva, all auspiciousness; He is the presiding deity of S'iva, that is, liberation. It is because liberation is obtained from Him, He is called S’iva. O dear Narada! While Narayana was thus speaking, the trident bolder Mahadeva, with his eyes red like reddened lotuses, mounting on His bull, came up there and getting down from His Bull, humbly bowed down with devotion to the Lord of Laksmi, peaceful and higher than the highest. Narayana was then seated on His throne, decked with jewel ornaments. There was a crown on His crest; two earrings were hanging from His ears; the disc was in His hand, forest flower's garlands on His neck; of the colour of fresh blue rain cloud; His form exceedingly beautiful. The four-armed attendants were fanning Him with their four hands; His body smeared all over with sandal-paste and He is wearing the yellow garment. That Bhagavan, distressed with the thought of welfare for His Bhaktas, the Highest Self was sitting on a jewel throne and chewing the betel offered by Padma and with smiling countenance, seeing and hearing the dancing and singing of the Vidyadharis. When Mahadeva bowed down to Narayana, Brahma also bowed down to Mahadeva. The Sun, too, surprised, bowed down to Mahadeva with devotion. Kas'yapa, too, bowed and with great bhakti, began to praise Mahadeva. On the other hand,
S’ankara praised Narayana and took His seat on the throne. The attendants of Narayana began to fan Mahadeva with white chowries. Then Visnu addressed Him with sweet nectar like voice and said “O Mahes'vara! What brings Thee here? Hast Thou been angry?”
41-45. Mahadeva said: - “O Visnu! The King Vrisadhavaja is My great devotee; he is dearer to Me than My life. The Sun has cursed him and so I am angry. Out of the affection for a son I am ready to kill
Surya. Surya took Brahma's refuge and now he and Brahma have taken Thy refuge. And Those who being distressed take Thy refuge, either in mind or in word, become entirely safe and free from danger. They conquer death and old age. What to speak of them, then, of those who come personally to Thee and take Thy refuge. The remembrance of Hah takes away all dangers. All good comes to them. O Lord of the world! Now tell me what becomes of My stupid Bhakta who has become devoid of fortune and prosperity by the curse of Surya.”
46-51. Visnu said “O S'ankara! Twenty-one yugas elapsed within this one-half Ghatika, by the coincidence of Fate (Daiva). Now go quickly to Thy abode. Through the unavoidable coincidence of the cruel Fate, Vrisadhvaja died. His son Rathadhvaja, too, died. Rathadhvaja had two noble sons Dharmadhvaja and Kus'adhvaja. Both of them are great Vaisnavas; but, through Surya's curse, they have become luckless. Their kingdoms are lost; they have become destitute of all property, prosperity and they are now engaged in worshipping Maha Laksmi. Maha Laksmi will be born in parts of their two wives. Then again, by the grace of Laksmi, Dharmadhvaja and Kus'adhvaja will be prosperous and become great Kings. O S'ambhu Your worshipper Vrisadhvaja is dead. Therefore Thou dost go back to Thy place. O Brahma, O Sun! O Kas'yapa! You all also better go to your places respectively.” O Narada! Thus saying, Bhagavan Visnu went with His wife to the inner rooms. The Devas also went gladly to their own places respectively. And Mahadeva, too. Who is always quite full within Himself, departed quickly to perform His Tapas.
Here ends the Fifteenth Chapter on the question of anecdote of Tulasi in the Ninth Book in the Mahapuranam S’ri Mad Devi Bhagavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyasa.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 24498, revision 99331 (2016-12-27T23:40:52Z). English is Swami Vijñanananda’s complete 1921–23 public-domain translation, controlled against the archival OCR and its chapter page at https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk09ch15.htm. Historic spelling and transliteration are lightly normalized; no verse-by-verse alignment is asserted.