पूजोपयुक्तं नैवेद्यं यद्यद्वेदे निरूपितम्
Whatever offerings for worship and food are prescribed in the Vedas,
नवनीतं दधि क्षीरं लाजांश्च तिललड्डुकान्
fresh butter, curd, milk, parched rice, and sesame sweets,
स्वस्तिकं शर्करां शुक्लधान्यस्याक्षतमक्षतम् 2.4.
svastika, sugar, unbroken white grains, and unbroken rice,
घृतसैन्धवसंस्कारैर्हविष्यैर्व्यञ्जनैस्तथा
oblations prepared with ghee and rock salt, as well as various side dishes,
पिष्टकं स्वस्तिकस्यापि पक्वरम्भाफलस्य च
cakes, svastika, and ripe fruits at the beginning of the season,
नारिकेलं तदुदकं केशरं मूलमार्द्रकम् कालदेशोद्भवं पक्वफलं शुक्लं सुसंस्कृतम्
coconut, its water, saffron, fresh ginger root, ripe fruits produced according to time and place, white and well-prepared,
सुगन्धि शुक्लपुष्पं च गन्धाढ्यं शुक्लचन्दनम् माल्यं च शुक्लपुष्पाणां मुक्ताहीरादिभूषणम्
fragrant white flowers, white sandalwood rich in scent, garlands of white flowers, ornaments of pearls and gems,
यद्दृष्टं च श्रुतौ ध्यानं प्रशस्तं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
and whatever meditation is seen or heard, praised and beautiful in the scriptures,
सरस्वतीं शुक्लवर्णां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्
Sarasvatī, white in complexion, smiling, and supremely enchanting,
वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्
clad in garments purified by fire, smiling, and supremely enchanting,
सुपूजितां सुरगणैर्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादिभिः
well-worshipped by hosts of gods, including Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and others,
एवं ध्यात्वा च मूलेन सर्वं दत्त्वा विचक्षणः
Having meditated thus, and having offered everything with the root mantra, the wise one,
येषां स्यादिष्टदेवीयं तेषां नित्यं शुभं मुने 2.4.
for those whose chosen goddess she is, there is always auspiciousness, O sage.
सर्वोपयुक्तमूलं च वैदिकाष्टाक्षरः परः सरस्वती चतुर्थ्यन्तो वह्निजायान्त एव च
The root mantra used for all offerings is the supreme Vedic eight-syllabled one, ending with 'Sarasvatī' in the fourth case and 'wife of Fire' likewise.
श्रीं ह्रीं सरस्वत्यै स्वाहा
"Śrīṃ hrīṃ, obeisance to Sarasvatī."
पुरा नारायणश्चेमं वाल्मीकाय कृपानिधिः
Long ago, the compassionate Nārāyaṇa gave this to Vālmīki.
भृगुर्ददौ च शुक्राय पुष्करे सूर्य्यपर्वणि
Bhṛgu gave it to Śukra at Puṣkara, on the day of the solar festival.
भृगवे च ददौ तुष्टो ब्रह्मा बदरिकाश्रमे विभाण्डको ददौ मेरावृष्यशृङ्गाय धीमते
Satisfied, Brahmā gave it to Bhṛgu at the hermitage of Badarikā; Vibhāṇḍaka gave it to the wise Ṛṣyaśṛṅga on Mount Meru.
शिवः कणादमुनये गौतमाय ददौ मुने
Śiva gave it to the sage Kaṇāda, and to Gautama as well, O sage.
शेषः पाणिनये चैव भरद्वाजाय धीमते
Śeṣa gave it to Pāṇini, and to the wise Bharadvāja.
चतुर्लक्षजपेनैव मन्त्रसिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्
By reciting it four hundred thousand times, the mantra attains perfection for people.
कवचं शृणु विप्रेन्द्र यद्दत्तं विधिना पुरा
Hear, O foremost of Brāhmaṇas, the armor that was formerly given by the Creator.
भृगुरुवाच सर्वज्ञ सर्वजनक सर्वपूजकपूजित ।। 2.4.
Bhṛgu said: "All-knowing, progenitor of all, worshipped by all who worship."
सरस्वत्याश्च कवचं ब्रूहि विश्वजयं प्रभो
Tell me, Lord, the universal-conquering armor of Sarasvatī.
ब्रह्मोवाच श्रुतिसारं श्रुतिसुखं श्रुत्युक्तं श्रुतिपूजितम्
Brahmā said: "The essence of the Vedas, delightful to hear, spoken in the Vedas, and honored by the Vedas."
उक्तं कृष्णेन गोलोके मह्यं वृन्दावने वने
It was spoken by Kṛṣṇa in Goloka, to me, in the forest of Vṛndāvana.
अतीव गोपनीयं च कल्पवृक्षसमं परम्
It is exceedingly secret, supreme, and equal to the wish-fulfilling tree.
यद्धृत्वा पठनाद्ब्रह्मन्बुद्धिमांश्च बृहस्पतिः
By reciting and retaining it, O Brahman, even Bṛhaspati became wise.
पठनाद्धारणाद्वाग्ग्मी कवीन्द्रो वाल्मिकी मुनिः
By reciting and holding it, Vālmīki, the foremost of poets and sages, became eloquent.
कणादो गौतमः कण्वः पाणिनिः शाकटायनः
Kaṇāda, Gautama, Kaṇva, Pāṇini, and Śākaṭāyana,