Devibhagavatapurana 9.17: saptadaśo'dhyāyaḥ | dharmadhvajasutātulasyupākhyānavarṇanam

9.17.1

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca |
dharmadhvajasya patnī mādhavīti ca viśrutā |
nṛpeṇa sārdhaṃ sārāme reme ca gandhamādane ||

9.17.2

śayyāṃ ratikarīṃ kṛtvā puṣpacandanacarcitām |
candanāliptasarvāṅgīṃ puṣpacandanavāyunā ||

9.17.3

strīratnamaticārvaṅgī ratnabhūṣaṇabhūṣitā |
kāmukī rasikā sṛṣṭā rasikena ca saṃyutā ||

9.17.4

surate viratirnāsti tayoḥ surativijñayoḥ |
gataṃ devavarṣaśataṃ na jñātaṃ ca divāniśam ||

9.17.5

tato rājā matiṃ prāpya suratādvirarāma ca |
kāmukī sundarī kiñcinna ca tṛptiṃ jagāma sā ||

9.17.6

dadhāra garbhaṃ sā sadyo daivādabdaśataṃ satī |
śrīgarbhā śrīyutā sā ca sambabhūva dine dine ||

9.17.7

śubhe kṣaṇe śubhadine śubhayoge ca saṃyute |
śubhalagne śubhāṃśe ca śubhasvāmigrahānvite ||

9.17.8

kārtikīpūrṇimāyāṃ tu sitavāre ca pādmaja |
suṣāva sā ca padmāṃśāṃ padminīṃ tāṃ manoharām ||

9.17.9

śaratpārvaṇacandrāsyāṃ śaratpaṅkajalocanām |
pakvabimbādharoṣṭhīṃ ca paśyantīṃ sasmitāṃ gṛham ||

9.17.10

hastapādatalāraktāṃ nimnanābhiṃ manoramām |
tadadhastrivalīyuktāṃ nitambayugavartulām ||

9.17.11

śīte sukhoṣṇasarvāṅgīṃ grīṣme ca sukhaśītalām |
śyāmāṃ sukeśīṃ rucirāṃ nyagrodhaparimaṇḍalām ||

9.17.12

pītacampakavarṇābhāṃ sundarīṣveva sundarīm |
narā nāryaśca tāṃ dṛṣṭvā tulanāṃ dātumakṣamāḥ ||

9.17.13

tena nāmnā ca tulasīṃ tāṃ vadanti manīṣiṇaḥ |
sā ca bhūyiṣṭhamānena yogyā strī prakṛtiryathā ||

9.17.14

sarvairniṣiddhā tapase jagāma badarīvanam |
tatra devābdalakṣaṃ ca cakāra paramaṃ tapaḥ ||

9.17.15

manasā nārāyaṇaḥ svāmī bhaviteti ca niścitā |
grīṣme pañcatapāḥ śīte toyavastrā ca prāvṛṣi ||

9.17.16

āsanasthā vṛṣṭidhārāḥ sahantīti divāniśam |
viṃśatsahasravarṣaṃ ca phalatoyāśanā ca sā ||

9.17.17

triṃśatsahasravarṣaṃ ca patrāhārā tapasvinī |
catvāriṃśatsahasrābdaṃ vāyvāhārā kṛśodarī ||

9.17.18

tato daśasahasrābdaṃ nirāhārā babhūva sā |
nirlakṣyāṃ caikapādasthāṃ dṛṣṭvā tāṃ kamalodbhavaḥ ||

9.17.19

samāyayau varaṃ dātuṃ paraṃ badarikāśramam |
caturmukhaṃ ca sā dṛṣṭvā nanāma haṃsavāhanam ||

9.17.20

tāmuvāca jagatkartā vidhātā jagatāmapi |
brahmovāca |
varaṃ vṛṇīṣva tulasi yatte manasi vācchitam ||

He then addressed her and said:-- “O Tulasî! Ask a boon that you like. Whether it be devotion to Hari, servantship to Hari, freedom from old age or freedom from death, I will grant that to you.”

9.17.21

haribhaktiṃ harerdāsyamajarāmaratāmapi |
tulasyuvāca |
śṛṇu tāta pravakṣyāmi yanme manasi vāñchitam ||

Tulasî said:-- “Father! I now say you my mind. Hear. What is the use of hiding away my views out of fear or shame to One who knows everything reigning in One’s Heart.
I am Tulasî Gopî (cowherdess); I used to dwell before in the Goloka. I was a dear she-servant of Radhikâ, the beloved of Krisna. I was also born of Her in part, Her Sakhis (female attendants) used to love me. Once in Râsa Mandalam I was enjoyed by Govinda; but I was not satiated and while I was lying down in an unconscious state, Râdhâ, the Governess-in-chief of the Râsa circle, came there and saw me in that state. She rebuked Gobinda and, out of anger, cursed me:-- ‘Go at once and be born as a human being.’ At this Govinda spoke to me:-- ‘If you go and practise Tapas in Bhârata, Brahmâ will get pleased and He will grant you boon. When you will get Nârâyana, the Four-armed, born of Me in part as your husband.’ O Father! Thus speaking, S’rî Krisna disappeared out of sight. Out of Râdhâ’s fear, I quitted my body and am now born in this world. Now grant me this boon that I get the peaceful, lovely, beautiful Nara for my husband.”

9.17.22

sarvajñasyāpi purataḥ kā lajjā mama sāmpratam |
ahaṃ tu tulasī gopī goloke'haṃ sthitā purā ||

9.17.23

kṛṣṇapriyā kiṅkarī ca tadaṃśā tatsakhī priyā |
govindaratisambhuktāmatṛptāṃ māṃ ca mūrcchitām ||

9.17.24

rāseśvarī samāgatya dadarśa rāsamaṇḍale |
govindaṃ bhartsayāmāsa māṃ śaśāpa ruṣānvitā ||

9.17.25

yāhi tvaṃ mānavīṃ yonimityevaṃ ca śaśāpa ha |
māmuvāca sa govindo madaṃśaṃ ca caturbhujam ||

9.17.26

labhiṣyasi tapastaptvā bhārate brahmaṇo varāt |
ityevamuktvā deveśo'pyantardhānaṃ cakāra saḥ ||

9.17.27

devyā bhiyā tanuṃ tyaktvā prāptaṃ janma guro bhuvi |
ahaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ kāntaṃ śāntaṃ sundaravigraham ||

9.17.28

sāmprataṃ taṃ patiṃ labdhuṃ varaye tvaṃ ca dehi me |
brahmadeva uvāca |
sudāmā nāma gopaśca śrīkṛṣṇāṅgasamudbhavaḥ ||

Brahmâ said:-- “O Child Tulasî! The Gopa (cowherd) Sudâmâ was born of S’rî Krisna’s body. At the present time he is very energetic, He too, under the curse of Râdhâ, has come and taken his birth amongst the Dânavas. He is named S’ankha Chûda. No one is equal to him in strength. In Goloka, when he saw you before, he was overpowered with passion for you. Only out of Râdhâ’s influence, he could not embrace you. That Sudâmâ is Jâtismara (knows all about his previous births); and you, too, are Jâti Smarâ. There is nothing unknown to you. O Beautiful One! You will now be his wife. Afterwards you will get Nârâyana, the Beautiful and Lovely for your husband. Thus under the curse of Nârâyana, you will be transformed into the world purifying Tulasî tree. You will be the foremost amongst the flowers and will be dearer to Nârâyana than His life. No one’s worship will be complete without Thee as leaf. You will remain as a tree in Bindrâban and you will be widely known as Vrindâbanî. The Gopas and Gopis will worship Mâdhava with Your leaves. Being the Presiding Deity of the Tulasî tree, you will always enjoy the company of Krisna, the best of the Gopas.” O Nârada! Thus bearing Brahmâ’s words, the Devî Tulasî became very glad. Smile appeared in her face. She then bowed down to the Creator and said:--

9.17.29

tadaṃśaścātitejasvī lebhe janma ca bhārate |
sāmprataṃ rādhikāśāpāddanuvaṃśasamudbhavaḥ ||

9.17.30

śaṅkhacūḍeti vikhyātastrailokye na ca tatsamaḥ |
goloke tvāṃ purā dṛṣṭvā kāmonmathitamānasaḥ ||

9.17.31

vilambhituṃ na śaśāka rādhikāyāḥ prabhāvataḥ |
sa ca jātismarastasmātsadāmābhūcca sāgare ||

9.17.32

jātismarā tvamapi sā sarvaṃ jānāsi sundari |
adhunā tasya patnī tvaṃ sambhaviṣyasi śobhane ||

9.17.33

paścānnārāyaṇaṃ śāntaṃ kāntameva variṣyasi |
śāpānnārāyaṇasyaiva kalayā daivayogataḥ ||

9.17.34

bhaviṣyasi vṛkṣarūpā tvaṃ pūtā viśvapāvanī |
pradhānā sarvapuṣpeṣu viṣṇuprāṇādhikā bhaveḥ ||

9.17.35

tvayā vinā ca sarveṣāṃ pūjā ca viphalā bhavet |
vṛndāvane vṛkṣarūpā nāmnā vṛndāvanīti ca ||

9.17.36

tvatpatrairgopigopāśca pūjayiṣyanti mādhavam |
vṛkṣādhidevīrūpeṇa sārdhaṃ kṛṣṇena santatam ||

9.17.37

vihariṣyasi gopena svacchandaṃ madvareṇa ca |
ityevaṃ vacanaṃ śrutvā sasmitā hṛṣṭamānasā ||

9.17.38

praṇanāma ca brahmāṇaṃ taṃ ca kiñciduvāca sā |
tulasyuvāca |
yathā me dvibhuje kṛṣṇe vāñchā ca śyāmasundare ||

“O Father! I speak now truly to Thee that I am not as devoted to the four-armed Nârâyana as I am devoted to S’yâma Sundara, the two-armed. For my intercourse with Govinda S’rî Krisna was suddenly interrupted and my desire was not gratified. It is because of S’rî Govinda’s words that I prayed for the four-armed. Now it appears certain that by Thy grace I will get again my Govinda, very hard to be attained. But, O Father! Do this that I be not afraid of Râdhâ.”

9.17.39

satyaṃ bravīmi he tāta na tathā ca caturbhuje |
atṛptāhaṃ ca govinde daivācchṛṅgārabhaṅgataḥ ||

9.17.40

govindasyaiva vacanātprārthayāmi caturbhujam |
tvatprasādena govindaṃ punareva sudurlabham ||

9.17.41

dhruvameva labhiṣyāmi rādhābhītiṃ pramocaya |
brahyadeva uvāca |
gṛhāṇa rādhikāmantraṃ dadāmi ṣoḍaśākṣaram ||

Brahmâ said:-- “O Child! I now give you the sixteen lettered Râdhâ mantra to you. By Her Grace you will be dear to Râdhâ as Her life. Râdhikâ will not be able to know anything of your secret dealings. O Fortunate! You will be dear to Govinda like Râdhâ.” Thus saying, Brahmâ, the Creator of the world, gave her the sixteen lettered Râdhâ mantra, stotra, Kavacha and mode of worship and puras’charana and He blessed her. Tulasî, then, engaged herself in worshipping Râdhâ, as directed. By the boon of Brahmâ, Tulasî attained Siddhi (success) like Laksmî. Out of the power of the Siddha mantra, She got her desired boon. She became fortunate in getting various pleasures, hard to be attained in this world. Her mind became quiet. All the toils of Tapasyâ disappeared. When one gets the fruit of one’s labour, all the troubles then transform to happiness. She then finished her food and drink and slept on a beautiful bed strewn with flowers and scented with sandal paste.
Here ends the Seventeenth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the anecdote of Tulasî in S’rî Mad Devî Bhâgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vyâsa.

9.17.42

tasyāśca prāṇatulyā tvaṃ madvareṇa bhaviṣyasi |
śṛṅgāraṃ yuvayorgopyaṃ na jñāsyati ca rādhikā ||

9.17.43

rādhāsamā tvaṃ subhage govindasya bhaviṣyasi |
ityevamuktvā dattvā ca devyā vai ṣoḍaśākṣaram ||

9.17.44

mantraṃ caiva jagaddhātā stotraṃ ca kavacaṃ param |
sarvaṃ pūjāvidhānaṃ ca puraścaryāvidhikramam ||

9.17.45

parāṃ śubhāśiṣaṃ caiva pūjāṃ caiva cakāra sā |
babhūva siddhā sā devī tatprasādādramā yathā ||

9.17.46

siddhaṃ mantreṇa tulasī varaṃ prāpa yathoditam |
bubhuje ca mahābhogaṃ yadviśveṣu ca durlabham ||

9.17.47

prasannamanasā devī tatyāja tapasaḥ klamam |
siddhe phale narāṇāṃ ca duḥkhaṃ ca sukhamuttamam ||

9.17.48

bhuktyā pītvā ca santuṣṭā śayanaṃ ca cakāra sā |
talpe manorame tatra puṣpacandanacarcite ||

9.17.48.c1

iti śrīmaddevībhāgavate mahāpurāṇe'ṣṭādaśasāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ navamaskandhe nārāyaṇanāradasaṃvāde dharmadhvajasutātulasyupākhyānavarṇanaṃ nāma saptadaśo'dhyāyaḥ ||