13 - The story of Tulasi and Vrushadhvaja 

Narada said— “How could the chaste Tulasi become the beloved of lord Narayana”? Where was she born? What was she in the earlier birth and in which race was she born? Who was her father? By which of the tapas, did she achieve the position of becoming the spouse of lord Hari who is beyond Prakruti, unthinkable, exclusive and Narayana, who happens to be the witness of all, the eternal Brahman, the supreme soul, the lord adorable by all, the lord of all, all knowledgeable, the cause of everything, the base of all, the form of everything and the preserver of all? 

How did such a goddess turn into a tree and how was such a chaste lady was entangled in the clutches of a demon? 

O lord, you are the remover of the doubts of all and you remove my doubts as well, because my unstable mind is in doubt. 

Narayana said—There was a yaksha named Savarni who was quite noble, the devotee of Vishnu, kind-hearted, glorious and was born out of the Amsa of Vishnu. 

His son was named Dharmasavarni who was quite religious, devoted to lord Vishnu, noble minded and his son was known by the name of Vishnusavarni. He was a great devotee of lord Vishnu and was self-disciplined. 

He had a son named Devasavarni who too was a great devotee of Vishnu and his son named Rajasavarni also was a great devotee of lord Vishnu. 

His son was known by the name of Vrushadhvaja; he was immensely devoted to lord Shiva. Lord Shiva spent three yugas in his abode. 

Lord Shiva loved Vrushadhvaja much more than his own son; therefore, the king never adored Narayana, Lakshmi or Sarasvati. 

He discarded the adoration of all other gods and always kept himself busy with the devotion of Shiva. He discards the adoration of Mahalakshmi in Bhadrapada and Sarasvati during the month of Magha. Simultaneously he disowned the adoration of Vishnu and started denouncing him.

No one could venture to pronounce a curse on the king because of the fear of Shiva but once Surya cursed the king thus, “All your glory will vanish”. At this lord Shiva got enraged at Surya and attacked him with his trident. Surya then in panic rushed to Brahma with his father Kashyapa.

Holding the trident in his hand, the enraged Shiva reached the Brahmaloka. Brahma on his part was also terrified. Placing Surya before him, he went to Vaikuntha.

Reaching their lord Shiva who had a trident in his hand caught hold of Surya. The scene terrified Brahma, Kashyapa and Surya who were very much in terror and their tongues dried up.

Terrified of Shiva they took refuge under lord Narayana. Reaching before him they bowed in reverence and started offering prayers to him. Thereafter all the three of them narrated the cause of their arrival to lord Vishnu.

O sage, lord Vishnu assured protection to them saying, "O terrified ones, be stable. You need not be afraid in my presence".

Whenever anyone recites my name in terror, I always reach the place to protect him holding a Cakra in my hand. 

О gods, I have been creator and the preserver of this universe, I create the universe in the form of Brahma and destroy it in the form of Shiva. I am myself Shiva, Brahma and Surya, enshrining in me all the three gunas. Thus, I take to many forms and conduct myself in the universe. Therefore, all the three of you should go back. You will meet with welfare and your fear shall be removed because of my boon. You will henceforth not be afraid of lord Shiva.

Lord Shiva gets pleased easily, is protector of the noble people, is under the command of the devotees, lord of the devotees, the soul of the devotees and is loved by his devotees.

O Brahman both the Sudarshana-cakra and Shiva are dearer to me than my life even. There is no one else more glorious than them in the universe.

With his illusion lord Shiva can create crores of Suraya’s and also Brahmanas. Nothing is beyond the competence of lord Shiva.

Since he is always engaged in meditation on me, he remains unconcerned with the outside world. He always recites my glory from all his five heads.

As such I always think of his welfare. Because whosoever meets me with any intention, I serve him accordingly.

Lord Shiva is the lord of welfare. Because of his being the lord of welfare, he is known always by the people as the bestower of welfare.

In the meantime, lord Shiva himself arrived there. He was holding a trident in his hand with eyes getting red like a red lotus and mounted on the bull.

He at once descended from the back of the bull. He bowed in reverence to lord Vishnu. He then offered a salutation to the lord with great devotion.

Lord Vishnu at that point of time was seated comfortably on the gem-studded throne, adorned with all the ornaments, kirita-mukuta and kundalas. A long garland of flowers was also worn by him.

He had a dark complexion like the fresh cloud. He was charming to look at, having four arms and served by attendants fanning him with the white fly-whisks. 

О Narada, his entire body was plastered with the sandal-paste and he was clad in a yellow garment. He was chewing the betel offered to him by Lakshmi.

Thus, smiling delightfully, he was listening to the music of Vidya-dharis. Such a lord incarnates on earth for the welfare of his devotees.

Lord Shiva offered his salutation to both Vishnu and Brahma. Thereafter, Surya also feeling panicky bowed in reverence to lord Shiva.

Kashyapa also offered prayers to him with devotion. Thereafter lord Shiva offering prayers to lord Vishnu took his seat.

Finding lord Shiva seated on Sukhasana comfortably with traces of fatigue on his face, lord Vishnu directed his sveta camara to serve lord Shiva.

By coming in touch with the sattvaguna devoid of anger, getting pleased and smilingly lord Shiva started offering prayers to Narayana from all his five heads. Thereafter in the assembly of gods, lord Vishnu spoke nectar-like sweet words to Shiva thus.

Lord Vishnu said—О lord Shiva, though it would be a joke to enquire from you about your welfare, yet following the Vedas I enquire of you about your welfare.

Because you bestow the reward of tapas and bestow all the riches on all, therefore it would not be proper for me to ask you the question about the riches and tapas.

Similarly, the one who is the store of knowledge, it would not be proper to question him about knowledge. The one who removes the misfortunes of all others it would not be proper for us to question him about misfortunes. Since you are self-supporting it would not be proper for me to question you about the reason for your arrival here. I only ask you this much as to why you have come rushing.

Mahadeva said— “My dear devotee Vrushadhvaja has been cursed by Surya, which enraged me and I have reached here.

Because of my love for my son, I got ready even to kill Surya as a result of which he fled away and has arrived here taking refuge under you. Brahma has arrived here together with him.

Such of the people who take refuge in you mentally or by speaking are always relieved of their misfortune and are freed from death.

But the one who himself has arrived to take refuge under you, what could I speak about him? Even the reciting of the name of Vishnu relieves one of all the dangers and bestows welfare.

О lord of the universe, because of the curse of Surya my devotee has lost all the grace and has become a fool. What shall happen to him you kindly tell me.

Lord Vishnu said—A lot of time has passed since the moves of tire destiny and twenty-one years have already lapsed though in Vaikuntha the time is equivalent to half a ghadi (measure of time equivalent to twenty-four minutes). Therefore, now you go back to the king. The terrific Yama has already swallowed Vrushadhvaja who happened to be your devotee; his son Hansadhvaja also has died. 

His two sons named Dharmadhvaja and Kuskadhvaja who were quite illustrious, have also died because of the curse of Surya. Deprived of all the riches they have been devoid of their kingdom. Therefore, when goddess Lakshmi incarnates in the form of their wives, both the princes would regain their lost grace. О Shiva, your devotee has already met with his end. Therefore, you can leave this place. О gods, you can also revert to your respective places. Thus, speaking lord Vishnu left the assembly with Lakshmi and reached the inner apartments. All the gods were delighted fully and reverted to their respective places. Thereafter lord Shiva also left the place for performing tapas.