Original text
जगद्धात्रि नमस्तुभ्यं विष्णोश्च प्रियवल्लभे । यतो ब्रह्मादयो देवाः सृष्टि स्थित्यन्तकारिणः ॥१॥ नमस्तुलसि कल्याणि नमो विष्णुप्रिये शुभे । नमो मोक्षप्रदे देवि नमः सम्पत्प्रदायिके ॥२॥ तुलसी पातु मां नित्यं सर्वापद्भ्योऽपि सर्वदा । कीर्तितापि स्मृता वापि पवित्रयति मानवम् ॥३॥ नमामि शिरसा देवीं तुलसीं विलसत्तनुम् । यां दृष्ट्वा पापिनो मर्त्या मुच्यन्ते सर्वकिल्बिषात् ॥४॥ तुलस्या रक्षितं सर्वं जगदेतच्चराचरम् । या विनिहन्ति पापानि दृष्ट्वा वा पापिभिर्नरैः ॥५॥ नमस्तुलस्यतितरां यस्यै बद्धाञ्जलिं कलौ । कलयन्ति सुखं सर्वं स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथाऽपरे ॥६॥ तुलस्या नापरं किञ्चिद्दैवतं जगतीतले । यथा पवित्रितो लोको विष्णुसङ्गेन वैष्णवः ॥७॥ तुलस्याः पल्लवं विष्णोः शिरस्यारोपितं कलौ । आरोपयति सर्वाणि श्रेयांसि वरमस्तके ॥८॥ तुलस्यां सकला देवा वसन्ति सततं यतः । अतस्तामर्चयेल्लोके सर्वान् देवान् समर्चयन् ॥९॥ नमस्तुलसि सर्वज्ञे पुरुषोत्तमवल्लभे । पाहि मां सर्व पापेभ्यः सर्वसम्पत्प्रदायिके ॥१०॥ इति स्तोत्रं पुरा गीतं पुण्डरीकेण धीमता । विष्णुमर्चयता नित्यं शोभनैस्तुलसीदलैः ॥११॥ तुलसी श्रीर्महालक्ष्मीर्विद्याविद्या यशस्विनी । धर्म्या धर्मानना देवी देवीदेवमनःप्रिया ॥१२॥ लक्ष्मीप्रियसखी देवी द्यौर्भूमिरचला चला । षोडशैतानि नामानि तुलस्याः कीर्तयन्नरः ॥१३॥ लभते सुतरां भक्तिमन्ते विष्णुपदं लभेत् । तुलसी भूर्महालक्ष्मीः पद्मिनी श्रीर्हरिप्रिया ॥१४॥ तुलसि श्रीसखि शुभे पापहारिणि पुण्यदे । नमस्ते नारदनुते नारायणमनःप्रिये ॥१५॥ इति श्रीपुण्डरीककृतं तुलसीस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम् ॥
Transliteration
Jagaddhatri namastubhyam vishnoshcha priyavallabhe Yato brahmadayo devah srishti sthityantakarinah ||1|| Namastulasi kalyani namo vishnupriye shubhe Namo mokshaprade devi namah sampatpradayike ||2|| Tulasi patu mam nityam sarvapadbhyo'pi sarvada Kirtitapi smrita vapi pavitrayati manavam ||3|| Namami shirasa devim tulasim vilasattanum Yam drishtva papino martya muchyante sarvakilbishat ||4|| Tulasya rakshitam sarvam jagadetachcharacharam Ya vinihanti papani drishtva va papibhirnaraih ||5|| Namastulasyatitaram yasyai baddhanjalim kalau Kalayanti sukham sarvam striyo vaishyastatha'pare ||6|| Tulasya naparam kinchiddaivatam jagatitale Yatha pavitrito loko vishnusangena vaishnavah ||7|| Tulasyah pallavam vishnoh shirasyaropitam kalau Aropayati sarvani shreyansi varamastake ||8|| Tulasyam sakala deva vasanti satatam yatah Atastamarchayelloke sarvan devan samarchayan ||9|| Namastulasi sarvajne purushottamavallabhe Pahi mam sarva papebhyah sarvasampatpradayike ||10|| Iti stotram pura gitam pundarikena dhimata Vishnumarchayata nityam shobhanaistulasidalaih ||11|| Tulasi shrirmahalakshmirvidyavidya yashasvini Dharmya dharmanana devi devidevamanahpriya ||12|| Lakshmipriyasakhi devi dyaurbhumirachala chala Shodashaitani namani tulasyah kirtayannarah ||13|| Labhate sutaram bhaktimante vishnupadam labhet Tulasi bhurmahalakshmih padmini shrirharipriya ||14|| Tulasi shrisakhi shubhe papaharini punyade Namaste naradanute narayanamanahpriye ||15|| Iti Shri Pundarika-kritam tulasistotram sampurnam ||
Pundarika's hymn
The Tulsi Stotram names its own author in verse 11: "Thus was this hymn sung long ago by the wise Pundarika, as he worshipped Vishnu every day with beautiful tulsi leaves." Pundarika is remembered in Vaishnava tradition as a devotee of Vishnu; the stotra is his praise of the plant that Vishnu loves above all offerings. It is short, simple Sanskrit in the anushtubh metre, which is why it is one of the most widely recited prayers at the tulsi plant.
What the verses say
- Verses 1–2: Tulsi is addressed as Jagaddhatri, sustainer of the world and beloved of Vishnu, and saluted as auspicious, giver of liberation and giver of prosperity.
- Verses 3–5: may Tulsi always protect me from every misfortune; merely naming or remembering her purifies a person; sinners who see her are freed from sin; this whole moving and unmoving world is protected by her.
- Verses 6–8: in the Kali age, women, merchants and all others who fold their hands to her obtain every happiness; there is no deity on earth like Tulsi; a tulsi leaf placed on Vishnu's head in Kali places every blessing on the worshipper's own head.
- Verse 9: since all the gods dwell in Tulsi, one who worships her worships them all.
- Verse 10: "Salutations, all-knowing Tulsi, beloved of Purushottama — protect me from all sins, giver of all wealth."
- Verses 12–15: the sixteen names — Tulsi, Shri, Mahalakshmi, Vidya, Avidya, Yashasvini, Dharmya, Dharmanana, Devi, Devidevamanahpriya, Lakshmipriyasakhi, Devi, Dyau, Bhumi, Achala and Chala. Whoever recites them gains steady devotion and at the end reaches Vishnu's abode. The hymn closes saluting her as friend of Shri and beloved of Narayana, praised by Narada.
When to recite it
- Daily, morning or evening, while offering water or lighting a ghee lamp at the tulsi plant (see Tulsi jal arpan).
- Throughout Kartik, when tulsi worship and the evening lamp are kept every day.
- On Dev Uthani Ekadashi and Tulsi Vivah, together with Tulsi Maharani Namo Namo and the Tulsi Chalisa.
- When picking tulsi leaves for Vishnu's worship — but not on Sundays, Ekadashi or Dwadashi, or after sunset, when tradition forbids plucking.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Tulsi Stotram?
Its verse 11 attributes it to Pundarika, a devotee who worshipped Vishnu with tulsi leaves; the colophon calls it "Shri Pundarika-krita Tulsi Stotram".
What are the 16 names of Tulsi?
Tulsi, Shri, Mahalakshmi, Vidya, Avidya, Yashasvini, Dharmya, Dharmanana, Devi, Devidevamanahpriya, Lakshmipriyasakhi, Devi, Dyau, Bhumi, Achala and Chala (verses 12–13).
Why does Vishnu love Tulsi?
Tulsi is regarded as a form of Lakshmi, and in the Tulsi Vivah tradition she is married to Vishnu as Shaligram. No Vishnu worship is complete without a tulsi leaf.
Can the Tulsi Stotram be recited on Sunday?
Yes — reciting and lighting a lamp are fine. The Sunday rule in many families is only against watering or plucking tulsi.
Is there a Hindi version?
Hindi translations are printed, and Hindi prayers like the Tulsi aarti and chalisa serve the same purpose; the Sanskrit is short enough that most people learn it quickly.
Spotted a mistake?
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