Kārttikamāsa-māhātmya · Chapter 8
Source।। नारद उवाच ।। ।। भूयः कथय तृप्तिर्हि नास्ति मे कमलासन ।। त्वद्वागमृतपानेन तृषा भूयः प्रवर्धते ।। १ ।। ।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। प्रातः स्नात्वा शुचिर्भूत्वा कार्तिके विष्णुतत्परः ।। देवं दामोदरं पूज्य कोमलैस्तुलसीदलैः ।। स तु मोक्षमवाप्नोति नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा ।। २ ।। भक्त्या विरहितो यस्तु सुवर्णादिभिरर्चयेत् ।। तस्य पूजां न गृह्णाति नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ३ ।। सर्वेषामपि वर्णानां भक्तिरेषा परा स्मृता ।। भक्त्या विरहितं कर्म न विष्णोः प्रियकारणम् ।। ४ ।। भक्त्या संपूजितो नित्यं तुलस्यास्तु दलार्धतः ।। स्वयं प्रत्यक्षमायाति भगवान्हरिरीश्वरः ।। ५ ।। विष्णुदासः पुरा भक्त्या तुलसीपूजनेन च ।। विष्णुलोकं गतः शीघ्रं चोलो गौणत्वमागतः ।। ६ ।। तुलस्याः शृणु माहात्म्यं पापघ्नं पुण्यवर्द्धनम् ।। यत्पुरा विष्णुना प्रोक्तं रमायै तद्वदाम्यहम् ।। ७ ।। संप्राप्ते कार्तिके मासि तुलस्याः पूजनं हरेः।। ये कुर्वंति नरा भक्त्या ते यांति परमं पदम् ।।८।। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन तुलस्याः कोमलैर्दलैः ।। पूजनीयो महाभक्त्या सर्वक्लेशविनाशनः ।। ९ ।। रोपिता तुलसी यावत्कुरुते मूलविस्तरम् ।। तावद्युगसहस्राणि ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ।। 2.4.8.१० ।। तुलसीपत्रसंयुक्तजले स्नानं चरेद्यदि ।। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो मोदते विष्णुमंदिरे ।। ११ ।। वृन्दावनं च कुरुते रोपणार्थं महामुने ।। तावतैव विमुक्ताऽघो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते ।। १२ ।। तुलसीकाननं ब्रह्मन्गृहे यस्याऽवतिष्ठते ।। तद्गृहं तीर्थभूतं तु न यांति यमकिंकराः ।। १३ ।। सर्वपापहरं पुण्यं कामदं तुलसीवनम् ।। रोपयंति नराः श्रेष्ठास्ते न पश्यंति भास्करिम् ।। १४ ।। तुलसीकाष्ठसंयुक्तं गन्धं यो धारयेन्नरः ।। तद्देहं न स्पृशेत्पापं क्रियमाणं तथैव च ।। ।। १५ ।। तुलसीविपिनच्छाया यत्र चैव भवेद्द्विज ।। तत्र श्राद्धं प्रकर्तव्यं पितॄणां तृप्तिहेतवे ।। १६ ।। यत्कृते तुलसीपत्रं कर्णे शिरसि दृश्यते ।। यमस्तं नेक्षितुं शक्तः किमु दूता भयंकराः ।। १७ ।। तुलस्या महिमां यस्तु शृणुयान्नित्यमादृतः ।। सर्व पापविमुक्तात्मा ब्रह्मलोकं स गच्छति ।। १८ ।। अत्रैवोदाहरंतीममितिहासं पुरातनम् ।। तुलस्या विषये ब्रह्मञ्च्छ्रवणात्पापनाशनम् ।। १९ ।। पुरा काश्मीरदेशे तु ब्राह्मणौ संबभूवतुः ।। हरिमेधःसुमेधाख्यौ विष्णुभक्तिपरायणौ ।।2.4.8.२०।। सर्वभूतदयायुक्तौ सर्वतत्त्वार्थवेदिनौ ।। कदाचित्तौ द्विजवरौ तीर्थयात्रापरायणौ ।।२१।। गच्छतावेकतो विप्रौ कांतारे श्रमविह्वलौ ।। तुलसीकाननं तत्र ददर्शतुररिंदमौ ।। २२ ।। तयोः सुमेधास्तद्दृष्ट्वा तुलसीकाननं महत् ।। प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य तदा ववंदे भक्तिसंयुतः ।। २३ ।। दृष्ट्वैतद्धरिमेधास्तु उवाच परया मुदा ।। ज्ञातुं तुलस्या माहात्म्यं तत्फलं च पुनःपुनः ।। २४ ।। ।। ।। हरिमेधा उवाच ।। ।। किमर्थं विप्र देवेषु तीर्थेषु च व्रतेषु च ।। स्थितेषु विप्रमुख्येषु प्रणामं कृतवानसि ।। २५ ।। ।। सुमेधा उवाच ।। ।। शृणु विप्र महाभाग साधु वाक्यमुदीरितम् ।। आतपो बाधते ह्यावां गत्वैतद्वटसन्निधौ ।। २६ ।। तस्यच्छायां समाश्रित्य वक्ष्यामि ते यथार्थतः ।। एवमुक्तः सुमेधास्तु हरिमेधेन संयुतः ।। २७ ।। वटं जगाम धर्मज्ञो महत्कोटरसंयुतम् ।। तत्र विश्राम्य विप्रोसौ हरिमेधमुवाच ह ।। २८ ।। श्रूयतां विप्रशार्दूल तुलस्यास्तूत्तमां कथाम् ।। परमेशप्रसादेन संजाता या पयोनिधौ ।। २९ ।। पुरा दुर्वाससः शापाद्गतैश्वर्ये पुरंदरे ।। ममंथुः क्षीरजलधिं ब्रह्माद्याः ससुराऽसुराः ।। 2.4.8.३० ।। ऐरावतः कल्पतरुश्चन्द्रमाः कमला तथा ।। उच्चैःश्रवा कौस्तुभश्च तथा धन्वन्तरिर्हरिः ।। ३१ ।। हरीतक्यादयश्चाऽपि दिव्या ओषधयस्तथा ।। अजायन्त द्विजश्रेष्ठ लोकश्रेयोविधायकाः ।। ३२ ।। ततः पीयूषकलशमजरामरदायकम् ।। कराभ्यां कलशं विष्णुर्धारयन्सुतलं परम् ।। अवेक्ष्य मनसा सद्यः परां निर्वृतिमाप ह ।। ३३ ।। तस्मिन्पीयूषकलश आनन्दास्रोदबिन्दवः ।। व्यपतंस्तुलसी सद्यः समजायत मण्डला ।। ३४ ।। सर्व लक्षणसंपन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता ।। ३५ ।। तत्रोत्पन्नां तथा लक्ष्मीं तुलसीं च ददुर्हरेः ।। देवा ब्रह्मादयस्ते हि जगृहे भगवान्हरिः ।। ३६ ।। ततोऽतीव प्रियकरा तुलसी जगतां पतेः।।३७।। सा तु देवगणैः सर्वैर्विष्णुवत्पूज्यते प्रिया ।। नारायणो जगत्त्राता तुलसी तस्य वल्लभा ।।३८।। तस्मात्तस्या नमस्कारो मया विप्र कृतस्ततः ।। इत्येवं वदतस्तस्य सुमेधस्य महात्मनः ।। ३९ ।। आराददृश्यत महद्विमानं सूर्यवर्चसम् ।। तदानीं वटवृक्षस्तु पपात पुरतो मुने ।।2.4.8.४०।। तथैव तस्माद्वृक्षाच्च पुरुषौ द्वौ विनिर्गतौ ।। द्योतयंतौ दिशः सर्वास्तेजसा सूर्यसन्निभौ ।। ४१ ।। प्रणामं चक्रतुस्तौ हि हरिमेधसुमेधयोः ।। हरिमेधसुमेधौ तौ तौ दृष्ट्वा भयविह्वलौ ।। ४२।। ऊचतुर्विस्मयाविष्टौ तावुभौ देवसन्निभौ ।।४३।। हरिमेधसुमेधसावूचतुः ।। युवां कौ देवसंकाशौ भवंतौ सर्वमंगलौ ।। मंदारमालां तरुणां धारयंतौ तथाऽमरौ ।। नमस्कार्यौ तथाऽऽवाभ्यां पूज्यौ च सुररूपिणौ ।। ४४ ।। इत्युक्तौ ब्राह्मणाभ्यां तावूचतुर्वृक्षनिर्गतौ ।। युवामेव पिता माता आवयोश्च तथा गुरुः ।।४५।। बंध्वादयस्तथा चैव युवामेव न संशयः ।। ज्येष्ठ उवाच ।। ।। अहं तु देवलोकस्य आस्तीकोनाम नामतः ।। ४६ ।। अप्सरोगणसंवीतः कदाचिन्नंदन वनम् ।। क्रीडार्थमगमं चाद्रौ विषयासक्त चेतनः ।। ४७ ।। रेमिरे देववनिता यथाकामं मया सह ।। मुक्तामल्लिकमाल्यानि निपेतुस्तानि योषिताम् ।। ४८ ।। तपतो रोमशस्यैव तद्दृष्ट्वा कुपितो मुनिः ।। योषितां नाऽपराधोयं यासां वै परतंत्रता ।। ४९ ।। अयमेव दुराचारः शापार्ह इति चाऽब्रवीत् ।। त्वं ब्रह्मराक्षसो भूत्वा वटवृक्षे चरेति माम् ।। 2.4.8.५० ।। प्रसादितो मया सोऽथ विशापमपि दत्तवान् ।। तुलसीपत्रमाहात्म्यं विष्णोर्नाम तथा द्विजात् ।। ।।५१।। यदा शृणोषि सद्यस्त्वं विमुक्तिं यास्यसे पराम्।। इति शप्तस्तु मुनिना चिरकालं सुदुःखितः ।। ५२ ।। वसाम्यत्र वटे दैवाद्भवद्दर्शनतो ध्रुवम् ।। मुक्तिर्जाता विप्रशापाद्द्वितीयस्य कथां शृणु ।। ५३ ।। अयं मुनिवरः पूर्वं गुरुशुश्रूषणे रतः ।। गुरोराज्ञामनादृत्य ब्रह्मराक्षसतां गतः ।। ।।५४ ।। युष्मत्प्रसादादधुना ब्रह्मशापाद्विमोचितः ।। तीर्थयात्राफलं चैव युवाभ्यामिह साधितम् ।।५५।। उत्तरोत्तरपुण्यानि वर्धंते च दिनेदिने ।। इत्युक्त्वा तौ मुनिवरौ प्रणम्य च पुनःपुनः ।। ५६ ।। तावनुज्ञाप्य तौ धाम जग्मतुः परया मुदा ।। ततस्तौ तीर्थयात्रार्थं परमौ मुनिपुंगवौ ।। ।। ५७ ।। शंसंतौ तुलसीं पुण्यां जग्मतुर्मुनिपुंगव ।। एवं नारद माहात्म्यं तुलस्याः को नु वर्णयेत् ।। ५८ ।। तस्मान्नारद मासेऽस्मिन्कार्तिके हरितुष्टिदे ।। कर्तव्या तुलसीपूजा नाऽत्र कार्या विचारणा ।। ५९ ।। एवमंग व्रतान्येव प्रोक्तानि मुनिसत्तम ।। उपांगानि प्रवक्ष्यामि वालखिल्योदितानि च ।। 2.4.8.६० ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे कार्तिकमासमाहात्म्ये तुलसीमाहात्म्यवर्णनं नामाऽष्टमोऽध्यायः ।।८।।
|| nārada uvāca || || bhūyaḥ kathaya tṛptirhi nāsti me kamalāsana || tvadvāgamṛtapānena tṛṣā bhūyaḥ pravardhate || 1 || || brahmovāca || || prātaḥ snātvā śucirbhūtvā kārtike viṣṇutatparaḥ || devaṃ dāmodaraṃ pūjya komalaistulasīdalaiḥ || sa tu mokṣamavāpnoti nā'tra kāryā vicāraṇā || 2 || bhaktyā virahito yastu suvarṇādibhirarcayet || tasya pūjāṃ na gṛhṇāti nā'tra kāryā vicāraṇā || 3 || sarveṣāmapi varṇānāṃ bhaktireṣā parā smṛtā || bhaktyā virahitaṃ karma na viṣṇoḥ priyakāraṇam || 4 || bhaktyā saṃpūjito nityaṃ tulasyāstu dalārdhataḥ || svayaṃ pratyakṣamāyāti bhagavānharirīśvaraḥ || 5 || viṣṇudāsaḥ purā bhaktyā tulasīpūjanena ca || viṣṇulokaṃ gataḥ śīghraṃ colo gauṇatvamāgataḥ || 6 || tulasyāḥ śṛṇu māhātmyaṃ pāpaghnaṃ puṇyavarddhanam || yatpurā viṣṇunā proktaṃ ramāyai tadvadāmyaham || 7 || saṃprāpte kārtike māsi tulasyāḥ pūjanaṃ hareḥ|| ye kurvaṃti narā bhaktyā te yāṃti paramaṃ padam ||8|| tasmātsarvaprayatnena tulasyāḥ komalairdalaiḥ || pūjanīyo mahābhaktyā sarvakleśavināśanaḥ || 9 || ropitā tulasī yāvatkurute mūlavistaram || tāvadyugasahasrāṇi brahmaloke mahīyate || 2.4.8.10 || tulasīpatrasaṃyuktajale snānaṃ caredyadi || sarvapāpavinirmukto modate viṣṇumaṃdire || 11 || vṛndāvanaṃ ca kurute ropaṇārthaṃ mahāmune || tāvataiva vimuktā'gho brahmabhūyāya kalpate || 12 || tulasīkānanaṃ brahmangṛhe yasyā'vatiṣṭhate || tadgṛhaṃ tīrthabhūtaṃ tu na yāṃti yamakiṃkarāḥ || 13 || sarvapāpaharaṃ puṇyaṃ kāmadaṃ tulasīvanam || ropayaṃti narāḥ śreṣṭhāste na paśyaṃti bhāskarim || 14 || tulasīkāṣṭhasaṃyuktaṃ gandhaṃ yo dhārayennaraḥ || taddehaṃ na spṛśetpāpaṃ kriyamāṇaṃ tathaiva ca || || 15 || tulasīvipinacchāyā yatra caiva bhaveddvija || tatra śrāddhaṃ prakartavyaṃ pitṝṇāṃ tṛptihetave || 16 || yatkṛte tulasīpatraṃ karṇe śirasi dṛśyate || yamastaṃ nekṣituṃ śaktaḥ kimu dūtā bhayaṃkarāḥ || 17 || tulasyā mahimāṃ yastu śṛṇuyānnityamādṛtaḥ || sarva pāpavimuktātmā brahmalokaṃ sa gacchati || 18 || atraivodāharaṃtīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam || tulasyā viṣaye brahmañcchravaṇātpāpanāśanam || 19 || purā kāśmīradeśe tu brāhmaṇau saṃbabhūvatuḥ || harimedhaḥsumedhākhyau viṣṇubhaktiparāyaṇau ||2.4.8.20|| sarvabhūtadayāyuktau sarvatattvārthavedinau || kadācittau dvijavarau tīrthayātrāparāyaṇau ||21|| gacchatāvekato viprau kāṃtāre śramavihvalau || tulasīkānanaṃ tatra dadarśaturariṃdamau || 22 || tayoḥ sumedhāstaddṛṣṭvā tulasīkānanaṃ mahat || pradakṣiṇīkṛtya tadā vavaṃde bhaktisaṃyutaḥ || 23 || dṛṣṭvaitaddharimedhāstu uvāca parayā mudā || jñātuṃ tulasyā māhātmyaṃ tatphalaṃ ca punaḥpunaḥ || 24 || || || harimedhā uvāca || || kimarthaṃ vipra deveṣu tīrtheṣu ca vrateṣu ca || sthiteṣu vipramukhyeṣu praṇāmaṃ kṛtavānasi || 25 || || sumedhā uvāca || || śṛṇu vipra mahābhāga sādhu vākyamudīritam || ātapo bādhate hyāvāṃ gatvaitadvaṭasannidhau || 26 || tasyacchāyāṃ samāśritya vakṣyāmi te yathārthataḥ || evamuktaḥ sumedhāstu harimedhena saṃyutaḥ || 27 || vaṭaṃ jagāma dharmajño mahatkoṭarasaṃyutam || tatra viśrāmya viprosau harimedhamuvāca ha || 28 || śrūyatāṃ vipraśārdūla tulasyāstūttamāṃ kathām || parameśaprasādena saṃjātā yā payonidhau || 29 || purā durvāsasaḥ śāpādgataiśvarye puraṃdare || mamaṃthuḥ kṣīrajaladhiṃ brahmādyāḥ sasurā'surāḥ || 2.4.8.30 || airāvataḥ kalpataruścandramāḥ kamalā tathā || uccaiḥśravā kaustubhaśca tathā dhanvantarirhariḥ || 31 || harītakyādayaścā'pi divyā oṣadhayastathā || ajāyanta dvijaśreṣṭha lokaśreyovidhāyakāḥ || 32 || tataḥ pīyūṣakalaśamajarāmaradāyakam || karābhyāṃ kalaśaṃ viṣṇurdhārayansutalaṃ param || avekṣya manasā sadyaḥ parāṃ nirvṛtimāpa ha || 33 || tasminpīyūṣakalaśa ānandāsrodabindavaḥ || vyapataṃstulasī sadyaḥ samajāyata maṇḍalā || 34 || sarva lakṣaṇasaṃpannā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā || 35 || tatrotpannāṃ tathā lakṣmīṃ tulasīṃ ca dadurhareḥ || devā brahmādayaste hi jagṛhe bhagavānhariḥ || 36 || tato'tīva priyakarā tulasī jagatāṃ pateḥ||37|| sā tu devagaṇaiḥ sarvairviṣṇuvatpūjyate priyā || nārāyaṇo jagattrātā tulasī tasya vallabhā ||38|| tasmāttasyā namaskāro mayā vipra kṛtastataḥ || ityevaṃ vadatastasya sumedhasya mahātmanaḥ || 39 || ārādadṛśyata mahadvimānaṃ sūryavarcasam || tadānīṃ vaṭavṛkṣastu papāta purato mune ||2.4.8.40|| tathaiva tasmādvṛkṣācca puruṣau dvau vinirgatau || dyotayaṃtau diśaḥ sarvāstejasā sūryasannibhau || 41 || praṇāmaṃ cakratustau hi harimedhasumedhayoḥ || harimedhasumedhau tau tau dṛṣṭvā bhayavihvalau || 42|| ūcaturvismayāviṣṭau tāvubhau devasannibhau ||43|| harimedhasumedhasāvūcatuḥ || yuvāṃ kau devasaṃkāśau bhavaṃtau sarvamaṃgalau || maṃdāramālāṃ taruṇāṃ dhārayaṃtau tathā'marau || namaskāryau tathā''vābhyāṃ pūjyau ca surarūpiṇau || 44 || ityuktau brāhmaṇābhyāṃ tāvūcaturvṛkṣanirgatau || yuvāmeva pitā mātā āvayośca tathā guruḥ ||45|| baṃdhvādayastathā caiva yuvāmeva na saṃśayaḥ || jyeṣṭha uvāca || || ahaṃ tu devalokasya āstīkonāma nāmataḥ || 46 || apsarogaṇasaṃvītaḥ kadācinnaṃdana vanam || krīḍārthamagamaṃ cādrau viṣayāsakta cetanaḥ || 47 || remire devavanitā yathākāmaṃ mayā saha || muktāmallikamālyāni nipetustāni yoṣitām || 48 || tapato romaśasyaiva taddṛṣṭvā kupito muniḥ || yoṣitāṃ nā'parādhoyaṃ yāsāṃ vai parataṃtratā || 49 || ayameva durācāraḥ śāpārha iti cā'bravīt || tvaṃ brahmarākṣaso bhūtvā vaṭavṛkṣe careti mām || 2.4.8.50 || prasādito mayā so'tha viśāpamapi dattavān || tulasīpatramāhātmyaṃ viṣṇornāma tathā dvijāt || ||51|| yadā śṛṇoṣi sadyastvaṃ vimuktiṃ yāsyase parām|| iti śaptastu muninā cirakālaṃ suduḥkhitaḥ || 52 || vasāmyatra vaṭe daivādbhavaddarśanato dhruvam || muktirjātā vipraśāpāddvitīyasya kathāṃ śṛṇu || 53 || ayaṃ munivaraḥ pūrvaṃ guruśuśrūṣaṇe rataḥ || gurorājñāmanādṛtya brahmarākṣasatāṃ gataḥ || ||54 || yuṣmatprasādādadhunā brahmaśāpādvimocitaḥ || tīrthayātrāphalaṃ caiva yuvābhyāmiha sādhitam ||55|| uttarottarapuṇyāni vardhaṃte ca dinedine || ityuktvā tau munivarau praṇamya ca punaḥpunaḥ || 56 || tāvanujñāpya tau dhāma jagmatuḥ parayā mudā || tatastau tīrthayātrārthaṃ paramau munipuṃgavau || || 57 || śaṃsaṃtau tulasīṃ puṇyāṃ jagmaturmunipuṃgava || evaṃ nārada māhātmyaṃ tulasyāḥ ko nu varṇayet || 58 || tasmānnārada māse'sminkārtike harituṣṭide || kartavyā tulasīpūjā nā'tra kāryā vicāraṇā || 59 || evamaṃga vratānyeva proktāni munisattama || upāṃgāni pravakṣyāmi vālakhilyoditāni ca || 2.4.8.60 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe kārtikamāsamāhātmye tulasīmāhātmyavarṇanaṃ nāmā'ṣṭamo'dhyāyaḥ ||8||
English translation
Nārada said :
1. O Lotus-seated Lord, speak further. I am not satisfied with drinking the nectar of your speech. (In fact) the thirst has increased further.
Brahmā said :
2. In the month of Kārttika one should take bath early in the morning. Remaining pure in body and mind, he should be devoted to Viṣṇu . Then he should worship Dāmodara with tender Tulasī (Basil) leaves. Thereby he attains salvation. There is no doubt about it.
3. If one is devoid of devotion but worships the Lord with gold and other (valuable) things, the Lord does not accept the worship. There is no doubt about it.
4. It is declared (in scriptures that) devotion is the greatest thing in everyone. A holy rite devoid of devotion does not please Viṣṇu.
5. On being worshipped with devotion (even) with half a leaf of Tulasī everyday, Lord Hari , the overlord (of the world), becomes directly visible.
6. Formerly Viṣṇudāsa went to the world of Viṣṇu by worshipping him devoutly with Tulasī. King Cola also attained a subordinate post. ( vide infra Chs. 26, 27)
7. Listen to the greatness of Tulasī which is destructive of sins and is conducive to the increase of merit. I shall recount to you what was formerly narrated to Ramā by Viṣṇu.
8. After the advent of the month of Kārttika, those men who devoutly worship Tulasī and Hari, attain the highest region.
9. Hence, by all means, the Lord who destroys all pains and distresses should be worshipped with great devotion, with the tender leaves of Tulasī.
10. The devotee is honoured in the world of Brahmā for as many thousands of Yugas as the extent of the roots of the Tulasī plants fixed by him.
11. If a person takes bath in the water that has come into contact with Tulasī leaves, he shall be rid of all sins. He rejoices in the abode of Viṣṇu.
12. Even if a person makes a raised platform for planting Tulasī, O great sage, he gets instantly rid of his sins thereby. He becomes worthy of being absorbed in Brahman .
13. O Brāhmaṇa , the house in which there is a grove of Tulasī plants becomes a sacred place. The servants of Yama do not go there.
14. The grove of Tulasī plants is meritorious. It destroys all sins. It yields what is desired. The excellent persons who plant it, do not see Bhāskari (Yama, the god of Death).
15. If a man smears scented unguents (upon his body) mixed with (powdered) Tulasī twigs, the sin that is being committed will not (even) touch his body.
16. For the propitiation of the Pitṭs (Manes), Śrāddha should be performed, O Brāhmaṇa, where there is the shade of Tulasī plants.
17. Even Yama is not powerful enough to look at (directly) a person, if a Tulasī leaf is visible in his mouth, ears or head; what to speak of his awful messengers!
18. He who constantly listens to the greatness of Tulasī with great respect, becomes absolved of all his sins and goes to the world of Brahma .
19. In this context they cite this ancient legend of Tulasī. [1] O Brāhmaṇa, if it is listened to, it is destructive of sins.
20. Formerly in the land of Kāśmīra , there were two Brāhmaṇas named Harimedhas and Sumedhas . They were engrossed in devotion to Viṣṇu.
21-22. They were endowed with kindness and compassion towards all living beings. They were conversant with all essential principles (of philosophy). Once those excellent Brāhmaṇas were engaged in pilgrimage to holy places. They were going through a forest once, when they became utterly exhausted at a certain place. The two Brāhmaṇas, the suppressors of their enemies, saw a grove of Tulasī plants there.
23. On seeing that great grove of Tulasī plants one of those two, nameley Sumedhas, circumambulated it and bowed down to it with devotion.
24-28. Harimedhas observed this. In order to understand the greatness of Tulasī and the benefit thereof, he repeatedly asked (Sumedhas) with great joy:
Harimedhas enquired :
O Brāhmaṇa, there are Devas , Tīrthas , holy rites and leading Brāhmaṇas. Still why did you make obeisance (to the plants)?
Sumedhas replied :
O Brāhmaṇa of great fortune, your speech (enquiry) is well-worded. Listen. The heat of the sun is oppressive. We shall go to that banyan tree. Under its shade I shall tell you the truth.
Having told thus, Sumedhas, conversant with piety and virtue, went to the banyan tree wherein there was a great hollow cavity. He went there in the company of Harimeḍhas. There he rested for a while. The Brāhmaṇa then spoke to Harimeḍhas:
29. “O tiger among Brāhmaṇas, may the excellent story of Tulasī be listened to. With the favour of the great Lord it originated in the ocean.
30. Formerly, due to the curse of Durvāsas , Purandara ( Indra ) lost all his glory and prosperity. Suras beginning with Brahmā churned the Milk Ocean along with the Asuras .
31-34. From it all the (following) things came up: Airāvata , Kalpa tree, the Moon, Goddess Lakṣmī . Uccaiḥśravas , Kaustubha , Had in the form of Dhanvantari and all the divine medicinal plants beginning with Harītakī (yellow myrobalan). O excellent Brāhmaṇa, all of them were conducive to the welfare of all the worlds.
Viṣṇu (in the form of Dhanvantari) held in his hands the pot of nectar that bestows immunity from old age and immortality. Holding the pot of excellent base and glancing at it, he experienced the highest mental satisfaction. Drops of his tears of joy fell into the pot of nectar forming circular figures which immediately became Tulasī. [2]
35-40. Lakṣmī endowed with all good features and adorned with all ornaments, was also born therefrom.
Devas headed by Brahmā gave unto Han, Lakṣmī and Tulasī that had originated there. Lord Hari accepted them. That is why Tulasī is exceedingly pleasing to the Lord of the worlds.
Nārāyaṇa is the protector of the universe. Tulasī is his favourite beloved. Like Viṣṇu she is also worshipped by all the groups of Devas. Therefore, O Brāhmaṇa, I made my respectful obeisance to it.”
Even as the noble-souled Sumedhas said this, a great aerial chariot, refulgent like the sun, was seen nearby. At that time, O sage, the banyan tree fell down in front of him. [3]
41-43. And also two men came out of that tree, brightening all the quarters with their refulgence. They resembled the sun. They bowed down to Harimedhas and Sumedhas. On seeing them, Harimedhas and Sumedhas became frightened. Struck with wonder, they spoke to those two persons who resembled Devas:
Harimedhas and Sumedhas said :
44-49a. O beings resembling Devas, who are you? You are auspicious unto all. You have worn a fresh garland of Mandāra flowers. You are immortal ones; therefore, you are worthy of being saluted by us. You are Suras.
On being spoken thus by those two Brāhmaṇas, those persons who came out of the tree spoke thus:
“You are our father, mother and preceptor. There is no doubt about this that you alone are our kinsmen etc.”
The eider one said :
I am a resident of the world of Devas. My name is Āstika . Once I went to Nandana park for the sake of sport, surrounded by groups of celestial damsels. My mind was engrossed in sensual pleasures. There, on the mountain, the divine ladies began to cling to me and embrace me as they pleased.
Jasmine garlands and pearl necklaces of the women fell on sage Romaśa who was engaged in penance there. On seeing it, the sage became angry.
49b-53. “This is not the fault of the women who are not independent. This fellow of wicked activities deserves being cursed.” Then he said to me, “You shall become a Brahmarākṣasa and hover around this banyan tree.”
On being propitiated by me, he told me the means of redemption too: “When you hear from a Brāhmaṇa the name of Viṣṇu as well as the greatness of Tulasī leaf, you will immediately attain complete release.”
Having been cursed thus by the sage, I began to abide here on this banyan tree with great sorrow for a long time. Fortunately I have been liberated by seeing both of you, from the curse of the Brāhmaṇa. Listen to the story of the second one.
54-57a. This is an excellent sage. Formerly he was engaged in serving his preceptor. Once he disobeyed the order of his preceptor and became a Brahmarākṣasa.
With your favour, he has been released now from the curse of the Brāhmaṇa. The benefit of the pilgrimage has been achieved by you both. Your merits will increase more and more everyday.
After saying this and bowing down to those excellent sages again and again, they took their permission and went to their respective abodes with great joy.
57b-60. Then, O eminent sage, those two great ascetics went on their pilgrimage praising the meritorious Tulasī.
Thus, O Nārada , who can (adequately) describe the greatness of Tulasī? Hence, O Nārada, in this month of Kārttika which brings delight to Hari, the worship of Tulasī should be performed. There is no doubt about it.
Thus the Aṅgavratas (ancillary observances) have been described, O excellent sage. I shall narrate the Upāṅgas (subsidiary ancillary rites) as told by Vālakhilyas .
[1]: [1] : VV 20-59 give dialogue between Harimedhas and Sumedhas about the greatness of Tulasī.
[2]: [2] : This version of Tulasī’s creation is special to this Purāṇa. In Devī Bhāgavata the plant is identified with Mahā-Lakṣmī and is a daughter of King Dharmadhvaja (DB IX 15-24). According to PdP VI (Uttara Khaṇḍa Chs. 3-16) Vṛndā, the wife of Jalandhara, became Tulasī in the next birth.
[3]: [3] : VV 41-57 show how by listening to Tulasī’s greatness two cursed celebrities were absolved.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 14054, revision 410414 (2025-10-30T16:26:09Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371649.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.