15 - The story relating to the birth of Tulasi 

Narayana said—The wife of kind Dharmadhvaja was known as Madhavi and was enjoying the company of her husband with pleasure at the Gandhamadana mountain. She always enjoyed the company of her husband, decorating herself with all the ornaments, applying sandal-paste all over her limbs and arranging the beds with flowers and sandal-paste, getting adorned with all the ornaments. They always got themselves engaged in love-sports and were never separated from each other.

Thus, a period of hundred divine years passed, while they enjoyed each other's company, they could not remain conscious of the day and night.

Thereafter the king became conscious and freed himself from the worldly pleasures, but the damsel was not satisfied. Thereafter the chaste lady conceived for the divine hundred years. Because of her conceiving a ray of Lakshmi entered in her womb and her glory went on increasing day by day.

Thereafter in an auspicious occasion and auspicious lagna, a daughter was born to her from the rays of Lakshmi and was known by the name of Padmini. Both her feet were imprinted with auspicious signs including the lotuses. All her limbs were quite beautiful and she looked like the supreme goddess Lakshmi. 

She had all the signs of royal grace and she looked like Lakshmi herself. Her face resembled that of the full moon of the winter season, the eyes resembled the lotus flowers of the winter season and the lips resembled the ripe wood apples. While wearing a smile on her face, she was looking around her palace. The soles of the feet and the palms of the girl were red and the navel was quite deep.

She wore three lines over the belly and she had the round breasts which looked quite beautiful; all her limbs remained warm to provide pleasure during the winter season while during the summer, her limbs remained cool. She always looked like a damsel of sixteen years. Her beautiful hair was so thick that it appeared as if the snakes had surrounded the banyan tree. She had a yellowish complexion and the people were unable to compare her beauty while looking at her. Therefore, the wise people gave her the name of Tulasi. As soon as she appeared on earth, she looked like the goddess Prakruti herself. She went to perform tapas in Badrikashrama much against the wishes of the people.

She desired that she should have Narayana as her husband. With this resolve in her mind she performed tapas for a lakh of divine years.

She used to have five types of fire around her during the summer. Sometimes she remained in water and during the rainy season she performed tapas under the open sky bearing the force of the rain water. Thus, she performed the tapas.

For twenty years she lived only on fruit and water. Thereafter for thirty years she lived on tree leaves and for forty years she lived only by inhaling air. For ten thousand years the tender waisted damsel performed tapas without taking any food.

Thereafter she performed tapas standing on one leg. Finding her so performing tapas, Brahma arrived in Badrikashrama. 

He was mounted on a goose having four arms and four heads. She bowed in reverence before Brahma. Thereafter Brahma, the creator of the world, told her.

Brahma said— “O Tulasi, you ask for any boon you want to achieve like the devotion of the lord, salvation or becoming immortal. You ask for anything you want.”

Tulasi said—О respectable one, I disclose the desire of my mind before you which you kindly listen to. You know everything. Therefore, why should I feel shy before you?

In the earlier times I was a cowherdesses named Tulasi and was the beloved of lord Krishna. I was his beloved as well as his servant.

Once when I was dancing with lord Govinda, I became passionate and before getting satisfaction I fainted. At that point of time Radha, the great goddess arrived there and she saw everything. Getting annoyed she denounced the lord Govinda and pronounced a curse on me to be born in a human family.

O grandfather, at that point of time lord Govinda told me that by performing tapas in Bharata I would achieve a boon from Brahma in order to seek four-armed Vishnu as my husband.

Thus speaking, the lord disappeared and terrified from of goddess Radhika my life came to an end. I have been reborn on the earth.

I am desirous of getting lord Narayana as my husband who is peaceful and has a beautiful body. You kindly grant me this boon.”

Brahma said—A cowherd named Sudama who was born of the ray of lord Krishna has been born on earth. He happens to be quite illustrious.

Now, by the curse of Radhika, he is born in the race of demons by the name of Shamkhacuda. No one can equal him in the world.

He became passionate in the Goloka while looking at you but he could not transgress the rules because of the influence of Radhika.

О beautiful one, he is well aware of the happenings of the earlier birth. Therefore, by performing tapas he has already got you as a boon. Because of your belonging to the same base you also know him.

Therefore, О beautiful one, you accept him as your husband and thereafter you will achieve the peaceful and glorious lord Narayana.

As a move of the destiny, you will remain on the earth in the form of a tree with the curse of Narayana and will purify the entire universe. You will be considered to be the best of all the flowers and lord Vishnu will treat you dearer than his life. Without you, the adoration of lord Vishnu will be considered to be of no consequence.

Because of your taking to the form of a tree in Vrundavana and the cowherds and cowherds will adore lord Krishna offering your leaves.

Because of being the goddess of the trees, you will keep company with lord Krishna and because of my boon you will enjoy the company of that cowherd.”

Hearing this she smiled and with a delightful mind she offered her salutation to Brahma and said to him.

Tulasi said—О respectable one, I am speaking out the truth. The type of devotion I have in the two-armed dark-complexioned Krishna, I could never have for the four-armed Vishnu.

As a move of destiny, I could not derive full satisfaction from the company of lord Krishna but I am praying for the four-armed Vishnu only on his advice. 

By your grace I shall surely get the company of lord Krishna. But you kindly relieve me of the fear of Radhika. 

Brahma said—I bestow on you the sixteen-letter mantra of Radhika. You receive it. Because of the influence of that mantra and by the grace of my boon, you will become dearer to him than his life. Radhika herself will permit you both to decorate yourself in seclusion and you will become the beloved of lord Govinda like Radhika herself.

Thus, speaking Brahma, the creator of the universe bestowed the knowledge of the sixteen latter mantra, the stotra and the best of kavacha to Tulasi.

Thereafter the entire method of adoration, the performing of all the rites in due consequence and the showering of his blessing on her, Brahma disappeared. Thereafter Tulasi, as per the advice of Brahma reached the sacred place of Badrikashrama and started reciting the mantra known to her in her earlier birth. 

She attained success after performing tapas for twelve years. Thereafter, she received the divine command.

After meeting with success in the performing of tapas and the reciting of mantra, she achieved the desired boon which bestows the merit which is otherwise difficult to achieve. 

All the troubles for performing tapas were borne by her with pleasure which were ultimately removed because after meeting with success, the miseries faced by a person are turned into pleasure. 

Therefore, she also getting satisfied with food and drinks, enjoyed the bed with fragrant flowers and sandal-paste.