The Ninth Book. Chapter 24
The Ninth Book
Chapter Xxiv
On The Glory Of Tulas
p. 897
1. Nrada said :-- How did Nryana impregnate Tulas? Kindly describe all that in detail.
2-11. Nryana said :-- For accomplishing the ends of the Devas, Bhagavn Hari assumed the Vaisnav My, took the Kavacha from Sankhachda and assuming his form, went to the house of Tulas. Dundubhis (celestial drums) were sounded at Her door, shouts of
p. 898
victory were proclaimed and Tulas was informed. The chaste Tulas, hearing that sound very gladly looked out on the royal road from the window. Then for auspicious observances, She offered riches to the Brhmins; then She gave wealth to the panegyrists (or bards attached to the courts of princes), to the beggars, and the other chanters of hymns. That time Bhagavn Nryana alighted from His chariot and went to the house of the Dev Tulas, built of invaluable gems, looking exceedingly artistic and beautiful. Seeing her dear husband before her, She became very glad and washed his feet and shed tears of joy and bowed down to Him. Then She, impelled by love, made him take his seat on the beautiful jewel throne and giving him sweet scented betels with camphor, began to say :-- "Today my life has been crowned with success. For I am seeing again my lord returned from the battle." Then she cast smiling glances askance at him and with her body filled with rapturous joy lovingly asked him the news of the war in sweet words :--
12-13. O Thou, the Ocean of mercy! Now tell me of your heroic valour, how you have come out victorious in war with Mahdeva who destroys countless universes. Hearing Tulass word, the Lord of Laksm, in the guise of Sankhachda, spoke these nectar-like words with a smiling countenance.
14-17. O Dear! Full one Samvatsara the war lasted betwixt us. All the Daityas were killed. Then Brahm Himself came and mediated. Peace, then, was brought about and by the command of Brahm, I gave over to the Devas their rights. When I returned to my home, Siva went back to His Sivaloka. Thus saying, Hari, the Lord of the world, slept and then engaged in sexual intercourse with her. But the chaste Tulas, finding this time her experience quite different from what She used to enjoy before, argued all the time within herself and at last questioned him :--
18-22. Who are you? O Magician! By spreading your magic, you have enjoyed me. As you have taken my chastity, I will curse you. Bhagavn Nryana, hearing Tulass words and being afraid of the curse, assumed His real beautiful figure. The Dev then saw the Eternal Lord of the Devas before her. He was of a deep blue colour like fresh rain-clouds and with eyes like autumnal lotuses and with playful Lls equivalent to tens and tens of millions of Love personified and adorned with jewels and ornaments. His face was smiling and gracious; and he wore his yellow-coloured robe. The love-stricken Tulas, seeing That Lovely Form
p. 899
of Vsudeva, immediately fell senseless; and at the next moment, regaining consciousness, she began to speak.
23-27. O Lord! Thou art like a stone. Thou hast no mercy. By hypocrisy Thou hast destroyed my chastity, my virtue and for that reason didst kill my husband. O Lord! Thou had no mercy; Thy heart is like a stone. So Let Thee be turned into a stone. Those who declare Thee as a saint, are no doubt mistaken. Why didst Thou for the sake of others, kill without any fault, another Bhakta of Thine. Thus speaking, Tulas overpowered with grief and sorrow, cried aloud and repeatedly gave vent to lamentations. Seeing her thus very distressed, Nryana, the Ocean of Mercy, spoke to her to cheer her up according to the rules of Dharma.
28-102. O Honoured One! For a long time you performed tapasy in this Bhrata, to get Me. Sankhachda, too, performed tapasy for a long time to get you. By that tapas, Sankhachda got you as wife. Now it is highly incumbent to award you also with the fruit that you asked for. Therefore I have done this. Now quit your this terestrial body and assume a Divine Body and marry Me. O Rme! Be like Laksm. This body of yours will be known by the name of Gandak, a very virtuous, pure and pellucid stream in this holy land of Bhrata. Your hairs will be turned into sacred trees and as they will be born of you, you will be known by the name of Tulas. All the three worlds will perform their Pjs with the leaves and flowers of this Tulas. Therefore, O Fair-faced One! This Tulas will be reckoned as the chief amongst all flowers and leaves. In Heavens, earth, and the nether regions, and before Me, O Fair One, you will reign as the chief amongst trees and flowers. In the region of Goloka, on the banks of the river Viraj, in the Rsa circle (the celestial ball dance,) where all amorous sentiments are played in Vrindrana forest, in Bhndra forest, in Champaka forest, in the beautiful Chandana (Sandal Forests and in the groves of Mdhav, Ketak, Kunda, Mallik, and Mlat, in the sacred places you will live and bestow the highest religious merits. All the Trthas will reside at the bottom of the Tulas tree and so religious merits will accrue to all. O Fair-faced One! There I and all the Devas will wait in expectation of the falling of a Tulas leaf. Anybody who will be initiated and installed with the Tulas leaves water, will get all the fruits of being initiated in all the sacrifices. Whatever pleasure Hari gets when thousands and thousands of jars filled with water are offered to him, the same pleasure He will get when one Tulas leaf will be offered to Him. Whatever fruits are acquired by giving Ayuta cows as presents, those will be also acquired by giving Tulas leaves. Especially
p. 900
if one gives Tulas leaves in the month of Krtik, one gets the fruits same as above mentioned. If one drinks or gets the Tulas leaf water at the momentous Time of Death, one becomes freed of all sins and is worshipped in the Visnu Loka. He who drinks daily the Tulas leaf water certainly gets the fruit of one lakh horse sacrifices. He who plucks or culls the Tulas leaf by his own hand and holding it on his body, quits his life in a Trath, goes to Visnu Loka. Whoever holds in his neck the garland made up of Tulas wood, gets certainly the fruit of horse sacrifices at every step. He who does not keep his word, holding the Tulas leaf in his hand, goes to the Klastra Hell as long as the Sun and Moon last. He who gives false evidence in the presence of the Tulas leaf, goes to the Kumbhpka Hell for the life-periods of fourteen Indras. He who drinks or gets a bit of the Tulas leaf water at the time of death, certainly goes to Vaikuntha, ascending on a car made up of jewels. Those who pluck or cull the Tulas leaves in the Full Moon night, on the twelfth lunar day, on the passing of the sun from one sign to another, the mid-day, or on the twilights, on the night, while applying oil on their bodies, on the impurity periods, and while putting on night dresses, verily eat off the Nryanas head. O Chaste One! The Tulas leaf kept in the night, is considered sacred. It is considered good in Srddha, vow ceremony, in the making over of any gift, in the installation of any image or in worshipping any Deva. Again, the Tulas leaf fallen on the ground or fallen in water or offered to Visnu, if washed out can be used in holy and other purposes. Thus, O Good One! You will remain as tree in this earth and will remain in Goloka as the Presiding Deity ther and will enjoy daily the sport with Krisna. And also you will be the Presiding Deity of the river Gandak and thus bestow religious merits in Bhrata; you will be the wife of the Salt Ocean, which is My part. You are very chaste; in Vaikuntha you will enjoy me as Rma lives with Me. And as for Me, I will be turned into stone by your curse; I will remain in India close to the bank of the river Gandak. Millions and millions of insects with their sharp teeth will make rings, (the convolutions in the Slagrma or sacred stones), on the cavities of the mountains there, representing Me. Of these stones, those that have one door (entrance hole), four convolutions, adorned by the garland of wild flowers (having a mark like this) and which look like fresh rain-cloud, are called Laksm Nryana Mrtis (forms). And those that have one door, four convolutions and look like fresh rain-clouds but no garlands are called Laksm Jnardana Chakras (discus). Those that have two doors, four convolutions, and decked with mark like cows hoof and void of the garland mark are called Raghuntha chakras. Those that are very small in size, with two Chakras and look like fresh rain
p. 901
clouds and void of the garland marks are named Vmana Chakras. Those that that are very small in size, with two Chakras and the garland mark added, know then to be the Srdhara Chakras. These always bring in prosperity to the household. Those that are big, circular, void of garland mark, with two circular Chakras, are known as Dmodara forms. Those that are mediocre in size, with two Chakras and marked as if struck by an arrow, having marks of arrows and bow-cases are known as Rana-Rmas. Those that are middling, with seven Chakras, having marks of an umbrella and ornaments, are called Rjarjesvaras. They bestow the royal Laksm to persons. Those that have twice seven chakras, and are big, looking like fresh rain-clouds are named Anantas. They bestow four fold fruits (Dharma, wealth, desire and liberation). Those that are in their forms like a ring, with two chakras, beautiful, looking like rain-clouds, having cow-hoof marks and of mediocre size are named Madhusdanas. Those that have one Chakra are called Sudarsanas. Those that have their Chakras hidden are called Gaddharas. Those that have two Chakras, looking horse-faced, are known as Hayagrvas. O Chaste One! Those that have their mouths very wide and extended, with two Chakras, and very terrible, are known as Narasimhas. They excite Vairgyas to all who serve them. Those that have two Chakras, mouths extended and with garland marks (elliptical marks) are called Laksm Nrisinghas. They always bless the householders who worship them. Those that have two Chakras near their doors (faces), that look even and beautiful, and with marks manifested are known as Vsudevas. They yield all sorts of fruits. Those that have their Chakras fine and their forms like fresh rain-clouds and have many fine hole marks within their wide gaping facets are called Pradyumnas. They yield happiness to every householder. Those that have their faces of two Chakras stuck together and their backs capacious, are known as Sankarsanas. They always bring in happiness to the householders. Those that look yellow, round and very beautiful are Anirudhas. The sages say, they give happiness to the householder. Where there is the Slagrma stone there exists Sr Hari Himself; and where there is Hari, Laksm and all the Trthas dwell there. Worshipping Slagrm Sil, destroys the Brahmahaty (killing a Brhmin) and any other sin whatsoever. In worshipping the Slagrma stone looking like an umbrella, kingdoms are obtained; in worshipping circular Sils,
great prosperity is obtained; in worshipping cart-shaped stones, miseries arise; and in worshipping stones, whose ends look like spears (Slas), death inevitably follows. Those whose facets are distorted, bring in poverty; and yellow stones bring in various evils and afflictions. Those whose Chakras look broken, bring in diseases; and those whose Chakras
p. 902
are rent asunder bring in death certainly. Observing vows, making gifts, installing images, doing Srddhas, worshipping the Devas, all these become highly exalted, if done before the S'lagrma Sil. One acquires the merits of bathing in all the Trthas and in being initiated in all the sacrifices, if one worships the Slagrma Sil. What more than this, that the merits acquired by all the sacrifices, all the Trthas, all vows, all austerities and reading all the Vedas are all acquired by duly worshipping by the holy Slagrma Sil. He who performs his Abhiseka ceremony always with Slagrma water (being sprinkled with Slagrma water at the initiation and Installation ceremonies), acquires the religious merits of performing all sorts of gifts and circumambulating the whole earth. All the Devas are, no doubt, pleased with him who thus worships daily the Slagrma. What more than this, that all the Trthas want to have his touch. He becomes a Jvanmukta (liberated while living) and becomes very holy; ultimately he goes to the region of Sr Hari and remains in Haris service there and dwells with him for countless Prakritic dissolutions. Every sin, like Brahm Haty, flies away from him as serpents do at the sight of Garuda. The Dev Vasundhar (the Earth) becomes purified by the touch of the dust of his feat. At his birth, all his predecessors (a lakh in number), are saved. He who gets the Slagrma Sil water during the time of his death, he is freed of all his sins and goes to the Visnu Loka and gets Nirvna; he becomes freed entirely from the effects of Karma and he gets, no doubt, dissolved and diluted for ever in (the feet of) Visnu. He who tells lies, holding Slagrma in his hands, goes to the Kumbhpka Hell for the life-period of Brahm. If one does not keep his word, uttered with the Slagrma stone in his hand, one goes to the Asipatra Hell for one lakh manvantaras. He who worships the Slagrma stone without offering Tulas leaves on it or separates the Tulas leaves from the stone, will have to suffer separation from his wife in his next birth. So if one does not offer the Tulas leaves in the conchshell, for seven births he remains without his wife and he becomes diseased. He who preserves the Slagrma stone, the Tulas and the conchshell, in one place, becomes very learned and becomes dear to Nryana. Look! He who casts his semen once in his wife, suffers intense pain, no doubt, at each others separation. So you become dear to Sankhachda for one Manvantara. Now, what wonder! That you will suffer pain, at his bereavement. O Nrada! Thus saying, Sr Hari desisted. Tulas quitted her mortal coil and assumed a divine form, began to remain in the breast of Sr Hari like Sr Laksm Dev. Hari also went with her to Vaikuntha. Thus Laksm, Sarasvat, Gang, and Tulas, all the four came so
p. 903
very dear to Hari and are recognised as svars. On the other hand, the mortal coil of Tulas, no sooner quitted by Tulas, became transformed into the river Gandak. Bhagavn Hari, too, became also converted into a holy mountain, on the banks ther, yielding religious merits to the people. The insects cut and fashion many pieces out of that mountain. Of them, those that fall into the river, yield fruits undoubtedly. And those pieces that fall on the ground become yellow coloured; they are not at all fit for worship. O Nrada! Thus I have spoken to you everything. What more do you want to hear now? Say.
Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the glory of Tulas in the Mahpurnam Sr Mad Dev Bhgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
Chapter Xxiv
On The Glory Of Tulas
p. 897
1. Nrada said :-- How did Nryana impregnate Tulas? Kindly describe all that in detail.
2-11. Nryana said :-- For accomplishing the ends of the Devas, Bhagavn Hari assumed the Vaisnav My, took the Kavacha from Sankhachda and assuming his form, went to the house of Tulas. Dundubhis (celestial drums) were sounded at Her door, shouts of
p. 898
victory were proclaimed and Tulas was informed. The chaste Tulas, hearing that sound very gladly looked out on the royal road from the window. Then for auspicious observances, She offered riches to the Brhmins; then She gave wealth to the panegyrists (or bards attached to the courts of princes), to the beggars, and the other chanters of hymns. That time Bhagavn Nryana alighted from His chariot and went to the house of the Dev Tulas, built of invaluable gems, looking exceedingly artistic and beautiful. Seeing her dear husband before her, She became very glad and washed his feet and shed tears of joy and bowed down to Him. Then She, impelled by love, made him take his seat on the beautiful jewel throne and giving him sweet scented betels with camphor, began to say :-- "Today my life has been crowned with success. For I am seeing again my lord returned from the battle." Then she cast smiling glances askance at him and with her body filled with rapturous joy lovingly asked him the news of the war in sweet words :--
12-13. O Thou, the Ocean of mercy! Now tell me of your heroic valour, how you have come out victorious in war with Mahdeva who destroys countless universes. Hearing Tulass word, the Lord of Laksm, in the guise of Sankhachda, spoke these nectar-like words with a smiling countenance.
14-17. O Dear! Full one Samvatsara the war lasted betwixt us. All the Daityas were killed. Then Brahm Himself came and mediated. Peace, then, was brought about and by the command of Brahm, I gave over to the Devas their rights. When I returned to my home, Siva went back to His Sivaloka. Thus saying, Hari, the Lord of the world, slept and then engaged in sexual intercourse with her. But the chaste Tulas, finding this time her experience quite different from what She used to enjoy before, argued all the time within herself and at last questioned him :--
18-22. Who are you? O Magician! By spreading your magic, you have enjoyed me. As you have taken my chastity, I will curse you. Bhagavn Nryana, hearing Tulass words and being afraid of the curse, assumed His real beautiful figure. The Dev then saw the Eternal Lord of the Devas before her. He was of a deep blue colour like fresh rain-clouds and with eyes like autumnal lotuses and with playful Lls equivalent to tens and tens of millions of Love personified and adorned with jewels and ornaments. His face was smiling and gracious; and he wore his yellow-coloured robe. The love-stricken Tulas, seeing That Lovely Form
p. 899
of Vsudeva, immediately fell senseless; and at the next moment, regaining consciousness, she began to speak.
23-27. O Lord! Thou art like a stone. Thou hast no mercy. By hypocrisy Thou hast destroyed my chastity, my virtue and for that reason didst kill my husband. O Lord! Thou had no mercy; Thy heart is like a stone. So Let Thee be turned into a stone. Those who declare Thee as a saint, are no doubt mistaken. Why didst Thou for the sake of others, kill without any fault, another Bhakta of Thine. Thus speaking, Tulas overpowered with grief and sorrow, cried aloud and repeatedly gave vent to lamentations. Seeing her thus very distressed, Nryana, the Ocean of Mercy, spoke to her to cheer her up according to the rules of Dharma.
28-102. O Honoured One! For a long time you performed tapasy in this Bhrata, to get Me. Sankhachda, too, performed tapasy for a long time to get you. By that tapas, Sankhachda got you as wife. Now it is highly incumbent to award you also with the fruit that you asked for. Therefore I have done this. Now quit your this terestrial body and assume a Divine Body and marry Me. O Rme! Be like Laksm. This body of yours will be known by the name of Gandak, a very virtuous, pure and pellucid stream in this holy land of Bhrata. Your hairs will be turned into sacred trees and as they will be born of you, you will be known by the name of Tulas. All the three worlds will perform their Pjs with the leaves and flowers of this Tulas. Therefore, O Fair-faced One! This Tulas will be reckoned as the chief amongst all flowers and leaves. In Heavens, earth, and the nether regions, and before Me, O Fair One, you will reign as the chief amongst trees and flowers. In the region of Goloka, on the banks of the river Viraj, in the Rsa circle (the celestial ball dance,) where all amorous sentiments are played in Vrindrana forest, in Bhndra forest, in Champaka forest, in the beautiful Chandana (Sandal Forests and in the groves of Mdhav, Ketak, Kunda, Mallik, and Mlat, in the sacred places you will live and bestow the highest religious merits. All the Trthas will reside at the bottom of the Tulas tree and so religious merits will accrue to all. O Fair-faced One! There I and all the Devas will wait in expectation of the falling of a Tulas leaf. Anybody who will be initiated and installed with the Tulas leaves water, will get all the fruits of being initiated in all the sacrifices. Whatever pleasure Hari gets when thousands and thousands of jars filled with water are offered to him, the same pleasure He will get when one Tulas leaf will be offered to Him. Whatever fruits are acquired by giving Ayuta cows as presents, those will be also acquired by giving Tulas leaves. Especially
p. 900
if one gives Tulas leaves in the month of Krtik, one gets the fruits same as above mentioned. If one drinks or gets the Tulas leaf water at the momentous Time of Death, one becomes freed of all sins and is worshipped in the Visnu Loka. He who drinks daily the Tulas leaf water certainly gets the fruit of one lakh horse sacrifices. He who plucks or culls the Tulas leaf by his own hand and holding it on his body, quits his life in a Trath, goes to Visnu Loka. Whoever holds in his neck the garland made up of Tulas wood, gets certainly the fruit of horse sacrifices at every step. He who does not keep his word, holding the Tulas leaf in his hand, goes to the Klastra Hell as long as the Sun and Moon last. He who gives false evidence in the presence of the Tulas leaf, goes to the Kumbhpka Hell for the life-periods of fourteen Indras. He who drinks or gets a bit of the Tulas leaf water at the time of death, certainly goes to Vaikuntha, ascending on a car made up of jewels. Those who pluck or cull the Tulas leaves in the Full Moon night, on the twelfth lunar day, on the passing of the sun from one sign to another, the mid-day, or on the twilights, on the night, while applying oil on their bodies, on the impurity periods, and while putting on night dresses, verily eat off the Nryanas head. O Chaste One! The Tulas leaf kept in the night, is considered sacred. It is considered good in Srddha, vow ceremony, in the making over of any gift, in the installation of any image or in worshipping any Deva. Again, the Tulas leaf fallen on the ground or fallen in water or offered to Visnu, if washed out can be used in holy and other purposes. Thus, O Good One! You will remain as tree in this earth and will remain in Goloka as the Presiding Deity ther and will enjoy daily the sport with Krisna. And also you will be the Presiding Deity of the river Gandak and thus bestow religious merits in Bhrata; you will be the wife of the Salt Ocean, which is My part. You are very chaste; in Vaikuntha you will enjoy me as Rma lives with Me. And as for Me, I will be turned into stone by your curse; I will remain in India close to the bank of the river Gandak. Millions and millions of insects with their sharp teeth will make rings, (the convolutions in the Slagrma or sacred stones), on the cavities of the mountains there, representing Me. Of these stones, those that have one door (entrance hole), four convolutions, adorned by the garland of wild flowers (having a mark like this) and which look like fresh rain-cloud, are called Laksm Nryana Mrtis (forms). And those that have one door, four convolutions and look like fresh rain-clouds but no garlands are called Laksm Jnardana Chakras (discus). Those that have two doors, four convolutions, and decked with mark like cows hoof and void of the garland mark are called Raghuntha chakras. Those that are very small in size, with two Chakras and look like fresh rain
p. 901
clouds and void of the garland marks are named Vmana Chakras. Those that that are very small in size, with two Chakras and the garland mark added, know then to be the Srdhara Chakras. These always bring in prosperity to the household. Those that are big, circular, void of garland mark, with two circular Chakras, are known as Dmodara forms. Those that are mediocre in size, with two Chakras and marked as if struck by an arrow, having marks of arrows and bow-cases are known as Rana-Rmas. Those that are middling, with seven Chakras, having marks of an umbrella and ornaments, are called Rjarjesvaras. They bestow the royal Laksm to persons. Those that have twice seven chakras, and are big, looking like fresh rain-clouds are named Anantas. They bestow four fold fruits (Dharma, wealth, desire and liberation). Those that are in their forms like a ring, with two chakras, beautiful, looking like rain-clouds, having cow-hoof marks and of mediocre size are named Madhusdanas. Those that have one Chakra are called Sudarsanas. Those that have their Chakras hidden are called Gaddharas. Those that have two Chakras, looking horse-faced, are known as Hayagrvas. O Chaste One! Those that have their mouths very wide and extended, with two Chakras, and very terrible, are known as Narasimhas. They excite Vairgyas to all who serve them. Those that have two Chakras, mouths extended and with garland marks (elliptical marks) are called Laksm Nrisinghas. They always bless the householders who worship them. Those that have two Chakras near their doors (faces), that look even and beautiful, and with marks manifested are known as Vsudevas. They yield all sorts of fruits. Those that have their Chakras fine and their forms like fresh rain-clouds and have many fine hole marks within their wide gaping facets are called Pradyumnas. They yield happiness to every householder. Those that have their faces of two Chakras stuck together and their backs capacious, are known as Sankarsanas. They always bring in happiness to the householders. Those that look yellow, round and very beautiful are Anirudhas. The sages say, they give happiness to the householder. Where there is the Slagrma stone there exists Sr Hari Himself; and where there is Hari, Laksm and all the Trthas dwell there. Worshipping Slagrm Sil, destroys the Brahmahaty (killing a Brhmin) and any other sin whatsoever. In worshipping the Slagrma stone looking like an umbrella, kingdoms are obtained; in worshipping circular Sils,
great prosperity is obtained; in worshipping cart-shaped stones, miseries arise; and in worshipping stones, whose ends look like spears (Slas), death inevitably follows. Those whose facets are distorted, bring in poverty; and yellow stones bring in various evils and afflictions. Those whose Chakras look broken, bring in diseases; and those whose Chakras
p. 902
are rent asunder bring in death certainly. Observing vows, making gifts, installing images, doing Srddhas, worshipping the Devas, all these become highly exalted, if done before the S'lagrma Sil. One acquires the merits of bathing in all the Trthas and in being initiated in all the sacrifices, if one worships the Slagrma Sil. What more than this, that the merits acquired by all the sacrifices, all the Trthas, all vows, all austerities and reading all the Vedas are all acquired by duly worshipping by the holy Slagrma Sil. He who performs his Abhiseka ceremony always with Slagrma water (being sprinkled with Slagrma water at the initiation and Installation ceremonies), acquires the religious merits of performing all sorts of gifts and circumambulating the whole earth. All the Devas are, no doubt, pleased with him who thus worships daily the Slagrma. What more than this, that all the Trthas want to have his touch. He becomes a Jvanmukta (liberated while living) and becomes very holy; ultimately he goes to the region of Sr Hari and remains in Haris service there and dwells with him for countless Prakritic dissolutions. Every sin, like Brahm Haty, flies away from him as serpents do at the sight of Garuda. The Dev Vasundhar (the Earth) becomes purified by the touch of the dust of his feat. At his birth, all his predecessors (a lakh in number), are saved. He who gets the Slagrma Sil water during the time of his death, he is freed of all his sins and goes to the Visnu Loka and gets Nirvna; he becomes freed entirely from the effects of Karma and he gets, no doubt, dissolved and diluted for ever in (the feet of) Visnu. He who tells lies, holding Slagrma in his hands, goes to the Kumbhpka Hell for the life-period of Brahm. If one does not keep his word, uttered with the Slagrma stone in his hand, one goes to the Asipatra Hell for one lakh manvantaras. He who worships the Slagrma stone without offering Tulas leaves on it or separates the Tulas leaves from the stone, will have to suffer separation from his wife in his next birth. So if one does not offer the Tulas leaves in the conchshell, for seven births he remains without his wife and he becomes diseased. He who preserves the Slagrma stone, the Tulas and the conchshell, in one place, becomes very learned and becomes dear to Nryana. Look! He who casts his semen once in his wife, suffers intense pain, no doubt, at each others separation. So you become dear to Sankhachda for one Manvantara. Now, what wonder! That you will suffer pain, at his bereavement. O Nrada! Thus saying, Sr Hari desisted. Tulas quitted her mortal coil and assumed a divine form, began to remain in the breast of Sr Hari like Sr Laksm Dev. Hari also went with her to Vaikuntha. Thus Laksm, Sarasvat, Gang, and Tulas, all the four came so
p. 903
very dear to Hari and are recognised as svars. On the other hand, the mortal coil of Tulas, no sooner quitted by Tulas, became transformed into the river Gandak. Bhagavn Hari, too, became also converted into a holy mountain, on the banks ther, yielding religious merits to the people. The insects cut and fashion many pieces out of that mountain. Of them, those that fall into the river, yield fruits undoubtedly. And those pieces that fall on the ground become yellow coloured; they are not at all fit for worship. O Nrada! Thus I have spoken to you everything. What more do you want to hear now? Say.
Here ends the Twenty-fourth Chapter of the Ninth Book on the glory of Tulas in the Mahpurnam Sr Mad Dev Bhgavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vysa.
