Śrī Tulasī Kīrtana – Meaning, Lyrics & Chanting Guide

Composed by Śrī Kṛṣṇa Dāsa, this sacred kīrtana is offered daily during ISKCON morning programs as the Tulasī Ārati. It glorifies Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, the beloved of Lord Kṛṣṇa, who grants pure devotional service and residence in Vṛndāvana to her devotees. This prayer is infused with longing for sevā, surrender, and Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa prema.

वृन्दायै तुलसी-देव्यै प्रिया-यै केशवस्य च ।
कृष्ण-भक्ति-प्रदे देवि सत्यवत्यै नमो नमः ॥

vṛndāyai tulasī-devyai priyāyai keśavasya ca
kṛṣṇa-bhakti-prade devi satyavatyai namo namaḥ

Meaning (English): I bow repeatedly to Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī, beloved of Keśava, who bestows pure devotion to Lord Kṛṣṇa and embodies eternal truth.

अर्थ (हिंदी): श्री केशव की प्रिय, भक्ति देनेवाली तुलसी महारानी को बारंबार नमन, जो नित्य सत्यस्वरूपा हैं।

(1)

नमो नमः तुलसी कृष्ण-प्रेयसी नमो नमः ।
राधा-कृष्ण-सेवा पाबो, एइ अभिलाषी ॥

namo namaḥ tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi namo namaḥ
rādhā-kṛṣṇa-sevā pābo ei abilāṣī

Meaning (English): O Tulasī, beloved of Kṛṣṇa, I bow to you again and again, desiring the eternal service of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

अर्थ (हिंदी): हे कृष्ण-प्रिया तुलसी देवी! आपको बारंबार नमन करता हूँ; मेरी एकमात्र अभिलाषा है श्री राधा-कृष्ण की सेवा।

(2)

ये तोमार शरण लय, तार वांछा पूर्ण होय ।
कृपा करी' करो तारे वृन्दावनवासी ॥

ye tomāra śaraṇa loy, tara vāñchā pūrṇa hoy
kṛpā kori’ koro tāre vṛndāvana-vāsi

Meaning (English): One who takes shelter of you finds all desires fulfilled, for by your mercy they become a resident of divine Vṛndāvana.

अर्थ (हिंदी): जो भी आपकी शरण में आता है, उसकी सभी इच्छाएँ पूर्ण होती हैं; आपकी कृपा से वह वृन्दावन का वासी बनता है।

(3)

मोर एइ अभिलाष, विलास कुञ्जे दिओ वास ।
नयन हेरिबो सदा युगल-रूप-राशि ॥

mora ei abhilāṣa, vilāsa kuñje dio vāsa
nayana heribo sadā yugala-rūpa-rāśi

Meaning (English): My heart longs for a dwelling in Vṛndāvana’s pleasure groves, where I may always behold the divine forms of Śrī Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.

अर्थ (हिंदी): मेरी यही अभिलाषा है कि मुझे लीला-कुञ्जों में वास मिले, जहाँ मैं निरंतर राधा-कृष्ण के युगल रूप का दर्शन कर सकूँ।

(4)

एइ निवेदन धरो, सखीरा अनुगत करो ।
सेवा-अधिकार दिए, करो निज दासी ॥

ei nivedana dhara, sakhīra anugata koro
sevā-adhikāra diye koro nīja dāsī

Meaning (English): O Tulasī, please accept my humble prayer—make me a follower of the gopīs and grant me the right to serve you as your maidservant.

अर्थ (हिंदी): हे तुलसी माता! मेरी प्रार्थना स्वीकार कर मुझे सखियों की सेवा में लगा दो और अपनी दासी बना लो।

(5)

दीन कृष्ण-दासे कहय, एइ येन मोर होय ।
श्री-राधा-गोविन्द-प्रेमे सदा येन भासी ॥

dīna kṛṣṇa-dāse koy, ei yena mora hoy
śrī-rādhā-govinda-preme sadā yena bhāsi

Meaning (English): The humble Kṛṣṇa dāsa prays—may this aspiration become my truth: to always be immersed in the love of Śrī Rādhā and Govinda.

अर्थ (हिंदी): दीन कृष्ण दास की यह प्रार्थना है—मुझे राधा-गोविन्द प्रेम में सदा डूबा रहने दो।

यानि कानि च पापानि ब्रह्म-हत्यादिकानि च ।
तानि तानि प्रणश्यन्ति प्रदक्षिणः पदे पदे ॥

yāni kāni ca pāpāni brahma-hatyādikāni ca
tāni tāni praṇaśyanti pradakṣiṇaḥ pade pade

Meaning (English): All sins, even the gravest ones like brahma-hatyā, are destroyed at every step taken in circumambulation of Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī.

अर्थ (हिंदी): जो भी पाप किए गए हों—even ब्रह्महत्या जैसे—वे तुलसी माता की प्रदक्षिणा करते हुए एक-एक चरण में नष्ट हो जाते हैं।

When & How to Chant

• Chanted daily during ISKCON morning programs (around 4:45 AM) as part of Tulasī Ārati
• Recited once or three times before morning japa
• Mood: Bhakti, surrender, longing for sevā and residence in Vṛndāvana

Why This Mantra Matters

Śrī Tulasī Kīrtana is central to the sādhana of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas. By glorifying Tulasī Devī—Kṛṣṇa’s dearmost—we receive her grace to enter the transcendental realm of sevā, especially the intimate pastimes of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa in Vṛndāvana. Her mercy is essential for attaining vraja-bhakti.

What is the Śrī Tulasī Kīrtana?

Śrī Tulasī Kīrtana, also known as Tulasī Ārati, is a cherished ISKCON prayer sung at dawn to honor Śrīmatī Tulasī Devī. This sacred kīrtana invokes her mercy to obtain devotional service and residence in Vṛndāvana, and to develop pure love for Śrī Rādhā-Govinda.