About this stotra
This popular verse is a devotional salutation to Tulasi, the sacred holy basil plant, who is revered not merely as a plant but as a divine being and an eternal companion of Lord Vishnu. In the verse, Tulasi is praised as Śrī-sakhī, meaning the dear friend or companion of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. She is described as auspicious (śubhe), a remover of sins (pāpahāriṇī), and a bestower of merit (puṇyadā), highlighting her powerful purifying and spiritually elevating nature.
The devotee offers respectful salutations (namaste) to her, acknowledging that she is praised by Sage Narada, one of the greatest devotees and divine messengers known for spreading devotion (bhakti). This emphasizes Tulasi’s importance in the devotional tradition.
Finally, she is addressed as nārāyaṇa-manaḥ-priyā, meaning the one who is most beloved to the heart of Narayana. This expresses her intimate and inseparable connection with the Divine.
This shloka is commonly recited during daily worship of the Tulasi plant, while offering water or lighting a lamp near Tulasi, and as part of Lord Vishnu or Krishna devotion.
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Verse 1
Tulasi Srisakhi – Verse 1
तुलसी श्री सखी शुभे पापहारिणि पुण्यदे ।
नमस्ते नारदनुते नमो नारायण प्रिये ॥
tulasi śrīsakhi śubhe pāpahāriṇi puṇyade .
namaste nāradanute nārāyaṇamanaḥpriye ..
Tulasi, Sree, friend, auspicious one, abstracter of sins, giver of virtues, salutation to You, (who is) worshipped by Narada, salutation, O beloved of Narayana.
Word by word
- तुलसी (tulasi)
- Tulasi
- श्री (śrī)
- Sree
- सखी (sakhī)
- friend
- शुभे (śubhe)
- auspicious one
- पापहारिणि (pāpahāriṇi)
- abstracter of sins (pāpa:sins | hāriṇi:abstracter)
- पुण्यदे (puṇyade)
- giver of virtues (puṇya:virtues | de:giver)
- नमस्ते (namaste)
- salutation to you
- नारदनुते (nāradanute)
- worshipped by Narada (nārada:Narada | nute:worshipped by)
- नमो (namo)
- salutation
- नारायण (nārāyaṇa)
- Narayana
- प्रिये (priye)
- beloved
