Chapter summary
तुलसीवनमाहात्म्यम् Tulasī Vana Māhātmyam
The Glory of Tulasīvana
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Lord Venkateshvara, having forsaken His abode in Vaikuṇṭha, joyfully resides with Ramā [Lakṣmī] on the tranquil banks of the Svāmi Puṣkariṇī. There, Ramā, who had taken birth as Padmāvatī, daughter of King Ākāśarāja, delights upon the mountain slopes, having attained Venkatesha as her divine consort (v.1-2).
Meanwhile, Vasundharā [Bhūmi Devī], deeply afflicted by the pangs of separation from Kṛṣṇa, chose the venerable sage Mārkaṇḍeya as her father. In the sacred Tulasī forest, situated on the southern bank of the Kāverī, the great sage performed severe penance by the Ahorātra Puṣkariṇī. It was there that Bhūmi herself manifested as his daughter, the goddess Vasumatī, her heart yearning to attain Śrīnivāsa (v.3-5).
Vasumatī blossomed like the radiant moonlight of the bright fortnight, endowed with celestial beauty, a charming and captivating young girl. The sage, recognizing her true divine nature as the mother of all worlds, showered upon her a special, pure, and boundless affection. Daily, as she listened to the sage recount the glorious and auspicious qualities of Mukunda, Kṣamā [Bhūmi] found her heart captivated by Him alone (v.6-8).
Yet, with each passing day, the sorrow of separation from Mukunda caused Vasundharā to grow emaciated and profoundly distressed, much like the waning moonlight of the dark fortnight. Observing her condition, Mārkaṇḍeya prayed for the Lord's grace, dwelling in his hermitage, ever anticipating Kṛṣṇa's arrival (v.9-10).
It was then that an aged Brāhmaṇa, a profound master of the Vedas, arrived at the hermitage. The great sage Mārkaṇḍeya, with due reverence, welcomed him as his esteemed guest (v.11).
**Mārkaṇḍeya spoke:**
"Welcome, O foremost among Brāhmaṇas, master of the Vedas and Vedānta! Please accept this sacred *arghya* [water for respectful offering], this *pādya* [water for washing feet], and be seated, O venerable one. By your mere arrival today, our ancestors are satisfied, the gods are pleased, and the deities of our home are content. I shall fulfill whatever you command, O Lord; I shall give you everything. Pray tell me swiftly what your heart desires" (v.12-14).
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
"Give me your daughter, O best of sages," implored the twice-born Brāhmaṇa, shamelessly, fearlessly, and piteously, repeating his plea again and again. Mārkaṇḍeya, his mind greatly agitated, found himself in a profound dilemma: on one hand, the grave fault of transgressing a Brāhmaṇa's request; on the other, the tender youth of his beloved daughter (v.15-16).
**Mārkaṇḍeya spoke:**
"Welcome to you, O Brāhmaṇa. You appear exceedingly old, yet such a desire for my daughter has arisen within you. This marriage is wholly unsuitable; consider this yourself, O twice-born. Therefore, I cannot give her to you; my daughter is but a mere child" (v.17-18).
**The Brāhmaṇa spoke:**
"I desire your daughter for the sacred purpose of protecting my Agnihotra fire. I am not a man of lust, O knower of *dharma*, O wise Mārkaṇṇḍeya. I, too, understand *dharma*. I am old and bereft of relatives. Therefore, I seek your assistance, and I ask for your daughter. Have mercy on me, O sage, and give me your daughter. I shall make her happy, just as Nārāyaṇa cherishes Lakṣmī" (v.19-21).
**Mārkaṇḍeya spoke:**
"Alas, this innocent girl, Dharaṇi, is only five years old! She does not even know how to properly add salt while cooking vegetables!" (v.22).
**The Brāhmaṇa spoke:**
"From this day forward, may my food be without salt! I shall not abandon your daughter. Give her to me out of compassion, O sage. If you do not, O king of yogis, I shall undertake a vow of fasting unto death right here. I shall surely give up my life before you; I speak the truth" (v.23-24).
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Addressed thus by the aged Brāhmaṇa, the great sage, torn between his deep affection for Bhū [his daughter] and the terrifying prospect of the Brāhmaṇa's suicide, became utterly afflicted and distressed, unable to utter a reply. Embracing Sarvaṃsahā [his daughter], the sage wept profusely (v.25-26). Yet, the glorious Brāhmaṇa, with a gentle voice but unwavering insistence, spoke again to the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya (v.27).
**The Brāhmaṇa spoke:**
"O great yogi, you called me, invited me with hospitality, and promised, 'I will give what you desire; make your choice.' Uphold your word, O king of yogis, for truth is the highest vow. Relying on your sacred promise, I ask for your daughter" (v.28-29).
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Thus addressed, the foremost of sages looked at his daughter's face. Bound by the noose of truth, he stood silent and sorrowful. It was then, seeing her father, the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya, so profoundly dejected, that Kṣamā [Bhūmi] spoke to him sweetly (v.30-31).
**Bhūmi spoke:**
"Do not grieve, O wise one, my father of firm vows. Give me, your daughter, to this Brāhmaṇa, even though he is old. I shall ensure your word is kept; I am your devoted daughter. I have no independence, O Brāhmaṇa; I shall worship my husband. The father protects in childhood, the husband protects in youth, and the son protects in old age; a woman does not deserve independence. Whether he is old, or sick, or poor, or even dull-witted, a husband must be worshipped, for to women, the husband is a deity. Since I have been given by you, my father, to this old Brāhmaṇa, I will worship him in every way, remembering him to be Hari [Viṣṇu] Himself" (v.32-36).
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Consoled by Sarvaṃsahā, the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya, with a soul now pleased and with unwavering faith, proceeded to give his daughter according to the prescribed rites. Having washed the groom's feet, offered the sacred *arghya*, and given a cow as enjoined by the scriptures, the great sage bestowed his daughter (v.37-38).
**Mārkaṇḍeya spoke:**
"This most fortunate daughter, named Kṣamā [forbearance] by her virtue, is also Vasundharā [holder of wealth], Ratnagarbhā [womb of jewels], Dharā [supporter], Sarvaṃsahā [all-enduring], and Bhū [the earth]. I give her to you, who are Viṣṇu. Let all the gods be witnesses. You are a Brāhmaṇa learned in the Vedas; take her hand in yours" (v.39-40).
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Thus addressed, the Brāhmaṇa accepted the girl and immediately revealed His own most auspicious form. He appeared dark like a blue cloud, with eyes like lotuses, adorned in divine yellow garments, and as handsome as a new god of love. Bearing the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem, holding the conch, discus, and mace, with a broad chest, tall stature, high shoulders, and four arms, He stood revealed. Beholding Him, Venkatesha, the great sage Mārkaṇḍeya, with a heart overflowing with delight, folded his hands and offered praise (v.41-44).
**Mārkaṇḍeya spoke:**
"I am blessed, I am graced, by Dharaṇī and by You as well. You have bestowed upon me the state of being a father and a father-in-law, a status so difficult to attain. Salutations, salutations to Venkatesha! O Śrīnivāsa, salutations, salutations! Salutations, salutations to the Lord of the world! O Janārdana, salutations, salutations! Salutations, salutations to Hṛṣīkeśa! O Vāsudeva, salutations, salutations! Salutations, salutations to Padmanābha! O Dāmodara, salutations, salutations! My prayer is this, O Viṣṇu, O Venkatesha, Lord of the universe: may You reside forever in this very great *kṣetra* [sacred place] with Kṣamā, in Your auspicious wedding form, bestowing grace upon all. I ask for no other boon, O Lord. Always ensure the welfare of the world" (v.45-49).
**Śrī Sadguru spoke:**
Thus prayed to, Viṣṇu, Venkatesha, the husband of Śrī, is ever-present here along with Bhūmi Devī. Merely by His sight, for devotees in the Kali Yuga, auspiciousness, which grants the fulfillment of all desires, will surely arise (v.50-51). By bathing in the Ahorātra Puṣkariṇī and serving the Lord, the husband of Śrī, one is freed from all diseases; of this, there is no doubt. In the great *kṣetra* of Mārkaṇḍeya, in the Tulasī forest, any maiden who serves Śrīpati [Viṣṇu] with devotion will quickly obtain a suitable husband (v.52-53). Indeed, there is no other great *kṣetra* [sacred abode, often a temple town] like this in the world. The Lord residing here grants all desires, like a celestial wish-fulfilling tree (v.54).
Thus ends the sixteenth chapter, named 'The Glory of Tulasīvana', in the Third Part of the Divyadeśavaibhavam, composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇapremi Mahāprabhu.
