Vishnu Glorifies 8 Names of Tulasi – Tulasi Namastaka Stotra

We are happy to present the first-ever comprehensive English translation of the entire Tulasi Namastaka Stotra from the Brahma-vaivarta purana. This text is particularly sweet, as lord Visnu himself glorifies his dear devotee, Srimati Tulasi Devi, giving her eight names to highlight her transcendental qualities and her supreme devotion. Each verse unfolds the unique divine connection between Lord Visnu and his dear devotee, offering a profound insight into the spiritual significance of Tulasi Devi.

From Śrī Brāhma-Vaivarta Purāṇa Prakṛti-khaṇḍa chapter 22

Text 1

श्रीभगवानुवाच
वृन्दा रूपाश्र च वृक्षाश्र च यत्रैकत्र भवन्ति च |
विदुर् बुधास्तेन वृन्दा मतिस्तां तां भजाम्यहम् ||

śrī-bhagavān uvāca
vṛndā-rūpāś ca vṛkṣāś ca yadaikatra bhavanti ca |
vidur budhās tena vṛndām mat-priyāṁ tāṁ bhajāmy aham ||

Śrī Bhagavān said – When many trees reside in one place they take a form like hers. Thus, the wise know my beloved as Vṛndā. I adore her. 

Text 2

पुरा वभूव या देवी द्वादी वृन्दावने वने |
तेन वृन्दावनी ख्याता सुभगां तां भजाम्यहम् ||

purā babhūva yā devī hy ādau vṛndāvane vane |
tena vṛndāvanī khyātā subhagāṁ tāṁ bhajāmy aham ||

Because that goddess appeared first in the forest of Vṛndāvana they called her Vṛndāvanī. I adore that beautiful lady!

Text 3

असङ्कुटुम्बश्च विशेषं पूजिता या निरन्तरम् |
तेन विश्व पूजिताख्या जगत्पूज्यां भजाम्यहम् ||

asaṅkhyeṣu ca viśveṣu pūjitā yā nirantaram |
tena viśva-pūjitākhyāṁ jagat-pūjyāṁ bhajāmy aham ||

Because she is worshipped perpetually in countless universes they call her Viśva-pūjitā. I adore she who is worshippable by all the worlds. 

Text 4

असङ्कुख्यानि च विश्वानि पवित्राणि यया विना |
तां विश्वपावनीं देवीं विहरेण स्मराम्यहम् ||

asaṅkhyāni ca viśvāni pavitrāṇi yayā sadā |
tāṁ viśva-pāvanīṁ devīṁ viraheṇa smarāmy aham ||

Because countless worlds are purified by her they call her Viśva-pāvanī. I think of that goddess in the agony of separation.

Text 5

देवा न तृप्ताः पुष्पाणां समूहेन यया विना |
तां पुष्पसारां शुद्धां च दृष्टुं इच्छामि शोकत ||

devā na tuṣtāḥ puṣpāṇāṁ samūhena yayā vinā |
tāṁ puṣpa-sārāṁ śuddhāṁ ca draṣṭum icchami śokataḥ ||

Because the gods are not satisfied by a plethora of flowers (puṣpa) if she isn’t present she is called Puṣpa-sārā. Due to my anguish I wish to see that pure lady. 

Text 6

विश्वे यद् प्राप्ति मात्रेण भक्त्यानन्दो भवेद् ध्रुवम् |
नन्दिनी तेन विख्याता सा प्रीता भविता हि मे ||

viśve yat-prāpti-mātreṇa bhakty-ānando bhaved dhruvam |
nandinī tena vikhyātā sā prītā bhavitā hi me ||

In this world the bliss of devotion arises with haste just by obtaining her. Therefore she is called Nandinī. May she be pleased with me. 

Text 7

यस्या देव्यास्तुला नास्ति विश्वेषु निखिलेषु च |
तुलसी तेन विख्याता तां यामि शरणं प्रियाम् ||

yasyā devyās tulā nāsti viśveṣu nikhileṣu ca |
tulasīṁ tena vikhyātāṁ tāṁ yāmi śaraṇam priyāṁ ||

That goddess has no equal (tulā) in all the worlds. So, they call her Tulasī. I take shelter of her, my beloved. 

Text 8

कृष्ण जीवन रूपा या सर्वदा प्रियतमा सती |
तेन कृष्ण जीवनीति मम रक्षतु जीवनम् ||

kṛṣṇa-jīvana-rūpā yā śaśvat-priyatamā satī |
tena kṛṣṇa-jīvanīti mam rakṣatu jīvanam ||

Because that pure lady is Kṛṣṇa’s dear most beloved she’s his very life in embodied form. Thus, they call her Kṛṣṇa-jīvanī. May she safeguard my life. 

Text 9

इत्येवं स्तवनं कृत्वा तत्र तस्थौ रमापति |
ददर्श तुलसीं साक्षात्पादपद्मे नतां सतीम् ||

ity evaṁ stavanaṁ kṛtvā tatra tasthau ramā-patiḥ |
dadarśa tulasīṁ sākṣāt pāda-padme natāṁ satīm ||

Standing there after composing this stotra, the husband of Ramā beheld pure Tulasī prostrate at His lotus feet. 

Text 10

रुदतीमभिमानेन भामिनीं मानपूजिताम् |
प्रियां दृष्ट्वा प्रियः शीघ्रं वासयामास वक्षसि ||

rudatīm abhimānena māninīṁ māna-pūjitām |
priyāṁ dṛṣṭvā priyaḥ śīghraṁ vāsayāmāsa vakṣasi ||

Seeing His beloved there, sulking and sobbing because of her pride, He hastily pulled her to His chest. 

Text 11

भारत्यां गृहीत्वा च स्वालयं च ययौ हरिः |
भारत्या सह तत्रैति कारयामास सत्वरम् ||

bhāraty-ājñāṁ gṛhītvā ca svālayaṁ sa yayau hariḥ |
bhāratyā saha tat-prītiṁ kārayāmāsa satvaram ||

Śrī Hari heeded the call of Sarasvatī and brought her to His abode. Tulasī and Sarasvatī quickly expressed their love for Him.

Text 12

वरं विष्णुद्वदो तस्मै विष्णुपूज्य भवेत् च |  
शिरोधार्या च सर्वेषां वन्ध्या मान्या प्रमीति च ||

varaṁ viṣṇur dadau tasyai viśva-pūjyā bhaveti ca |
śiro-dhāryā ca sarveṣāṁ vandyā mānyā mameti ca ||

Śrī Viṣṇu then offered Tulasī this blessing, “May you be worshipped in this world. May you be bowed to, revered by and carried upon the heads of all, including me.” 

Text 13

विष्णोर्वीर्यं सा देवी परितुष्टा बभूव ह |
सरस्वती तामाश्लिष्य वासयामास सत्रिधौ ||

viṣṇur vareṇa sā devī parituṣṭā babhūva ha |
sarasvatī tām āśliṣya vāsayāmāsa sannidhau ||

That goddess Tulasī was completely satisfied by Viṣṇu’s boon. Sarasvatī then embraced her and placed her at her side. 

Text 14

लक्ष्मीर्गद्गदस्मिता तां समाश्लिष्य च नारदा |
गृहं प्रवेशयामास विनयेन सतीं मुदा ||

lakṣmīr gaṅgā sasmitā tāṁ samāśliṣya ca nārada |
gṛhaṁ praveśayāmāsa vinayena satīṁ mudā ||

O Nārada! Smiling, Lakṣṃī and Gaṅgā Devī then embraced pure-hearted Tulasī and politely brought her into their home.

फलश्रुति
phalaśrutiḥ

Text 15-16

वृन्दा वृन्दावनी विश्व पावनी विश्वपूजिताम् |
पुष्पसारा नन्दिनी च तुलसीं कृष्ण जीवनीम् ||
एतान् नामाष्टकं चैतत् स्तोत्रं नामार्थ संयुतम् |
यः पठेत् तां च संपूज्य सोऽश्वमेध फलं लभेत् ||

vṛndāṁ vṛndāvanīṁ viṣva-pāvanīṁ viṣva-pūjitām |
puṣpa-sārāṁ nandinīṁ ca tulasīṁ kṛṣṇa-jīvanīm ||
etan nāmāṣṭakaṁ caitat stotraṁ nāmārtha-saṁyutam |
yaḥ paṭhet tāṁ ca saṁpūjya so ‘śva-medha-phalaṁ labhet ||

One who worships Tulasī and recites these eight names, Vṛndā; Vṛndāvanī; Viṣva-pāvanī; Viṣva-pūjitā; Puṣpa Sārā; Nandinī; Tulasī and Kṛṣṇa-jīvanī, along with this stotra that explains them shall obtain the result of an aśva-medha yajña.

Text 17

कार्तिकी पूर्णिमायां च तुलस्या जन्म मङ्गलात् |
तत्र तस्याश्च पूजा च विहिता हरिणा पुरा ||

kārtikī-pūrṇīmāyāṁ ca tulasyā janma maṅgalaṁ |
tatra tasyāś ca pūjā ca vihitā hariṇā purā ||

Tulasī’s auspicious appearance took place during the full moon of the month of Kārtik. Śrī Hari thus ordained that she be worshipped on that day. 

Text 18

तस्यां यः पूजयेत् तां च भक्त्या च विश्वपावनीम् |
सर्वापद् विनिर्मुक्तो विष्णुलोके स गच्छति ||

tasyāṁ yaḥ pūjayet tā ca bhaktyā ca viśva-pāvanīm |
sarvaṁ pāpād vinirmukto viṣṇu-lokaṁ sa gacchati ||

One who worships her, the purifier of the universe, with devotion is released from all sin and goes to the abode of Viṣṇu. 

Text 19

कार्तिके तुलसी पत्रं विष्णवे यो ददाति च |
गवामयुत दानस्य फलं आप्नोति निश्चितम् ||

kārtike tulasī-patraṁ viṣnave yo dadāti ca |
gavām ayuta-dānasya phalam āpnoti niścitam ||

One who offers a Tulasī leaf to Śrī Viṣṇu in the month of Kārtik will, without doubt, obtain the result of giving ten thousand cows in charity. 

Text 20-21

अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं प्रियाहीनो लभेत् प्रियाम् |
बन्धुहीनो लभेद् बन्धून् स्तोत्र स्मरण मात्रत ||
रोगी प्रमुच्यते रोगाद् बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात् |
भयान् मुच्येत भीतस्तु पापान् मुच्येत पातकी ||

aputro labhate putraṁ priyāhīno labhet priyām |
bandhu-hīno labhed bandhuṁ stotra-smaraṇa-mātrataḥ ||
rogī pramucyate rogād baddho mucyate bandhanāt |
bhayān mucyeta bhītas tu pāpān mucyeta pātakī ||

Simply by reciting this stotra those without child shall have children; those bereft of a lover shall find one; those without friends shall find friends; a sick person shall be freed from his ailments; they who are bound up shall be freed from bondage; the anxious shall be released from their anxieties and the wicked shall be released from their transgressions. 

Text 22-24

इत्येवं कथितं स्तोत्रं ध्यानं पूजाविधि श्रृणु |
त्वमेव देव जानासि काण्वशाखोक्तमेव च ||
यदृच्छये पूजयेतां च भक्त्या चाऽऽवाहनं विना |
उपचारैः षोडशभिर्ध्यानं पातकनाशनम् ||

ity evaṁ kathitaṁ stotraṁ dhyānaṁ pūja-vidhiṁ śṛṇu |
tvam eva deva jānāsi kāṇva-śākhoktam eva ca ||
yad vakṣye pūjayet tāṁ ca bhaktyā cāvāhanaṁ vinā |
upacāraiḥ ṣoḍaśabhir dhyānaṁ pātaka-nāśanam ||

Thus, I’ve told you of her stotra. Now listen to her dhyāna-mantra and the rules for her worship. O Deva! You already know the kāṇva-śākhā of the Veda which I shall speak. One can worship Tulasī out of devotion, devoid of a carrier and without the sixteen upacāras. This is her dhyāna-mantra which destroys all sin:

Text 25

तुलसीं पुष्पसारां च सतीं पूज्यां मनोहराम् |
कृत्स्नपापध्वंसदाहाय ज्वलदग्निशिखोपमाम् ||

tulasīṁ puṣpasārāṁ ca satīṁ pūjyāṁ manoharāṁ |
kṛtsna-pāpedhma-dāhāya-jvalad-agni-śikhopamām ||

[I meditate upon] She who has no comparison (Tulasī). She is the essence of all flowers (puṣpa-sārā). She is pure (satī), worthy of worship (pūjyā) and enchanting to the mind (manoharā). Her form is akin to the tongue of a blazing fire which incinerates all of the sins offered into it (kṛtsna-pāpedhma-dāhāya-jvalad-agni-śikhopamām). 

Text 26

पुष्पेषु तुलनोऽप्यस्या नासीद्देवीषु वा मुने  |
पवित्ररूपा सर्वासु तुलसी सा च कीर्तिता ||

puṣpeṣu tulanāpy asyā nāsīd devīṣu vā mune |
pavitra-rūpā sarvāsu tulasī sā ca kīrtitā ||

O Muni! She has no equal (tulanā) among flowers and none among goddesses. Thus she is glorified as the very embodiment of sanctity and is called Tulasī. 

Text 27

शिरोधार्या च सर्वेषामीप्सितां विश्वपावनीम् |
जीवन्मुक्तां मुक्तिदां च भजे तां हरिभक्तिदाम् ||
इति ध्यात्वा च संपूज्य स्तुत्वा च प्रणमेद्बुध |
उक्तं तुलस्युपाख्यानं किं भूयः श्रोतुमिच्छसि ||

śirodhāryāṁ ca sarveṣām īpsitāṁ viśva-pāvanīm |
jīvan-muktāṁ muktidāṁ ca bhaje tāṁ hari-bhaktidāṁ ||
iti dhyātyvā ca saṃpūjya stutvā ca praṇamed budhaḥ |
uktaṁ tulasy-upākhyānaṁ kiṁ bhūyaḥ śrotum icchasi ||

She is fit to be held upon the heads of all, she is desired by all and she purifies the whole world. She is liberated though living and she herself grants liberation. I adore her who gives love for Śrī Hari. After meditating on, worshipping and glorifying her in this way an intelligent person should bow to her. Thus, I’ve told you the story of Śrī Tulasī. What else would you like to know?

इति श्री ब्राह्मे वैवर्ते पुराणे प्रकृति खण्डे तुलस्युपाख्यानमे
श्रीतुलसी नामाष्टक स्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम्

iti śrī brāhma-vaivarta purāṇa prakṛti-khaṇḍe tulasyupākhyāname
śrītulasī nāmāṣṭaka stotraṃ sampūrṇam

Thus ends the Śrī Brāhma-Vaivarta Purāṇa Prakṛti-khaṇḍa, the story of Tulasī. The Sri Tulasi Namastaka Stotra (Hymn of the Eight Names of Tulasi) is complete.

We welcome you to read our other articles on Tulasi Devi as found in sastra.