सर्वे देवाश्च मनवो नृपा वा मानवादयः 2.4.
All the gods, Manus, kings, and men likewise (did so).
नारद उवाच पूजोपयुक्तं नैवेद्यं पुष्पं वा चन्दनादिकम्
Nārada said: The offerings used in worship—food, flowers, sandalwood, and the like—
वद वेदविदां श्रेष्ठ श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम
Tell me, O best of knowers of the Veda, for I am eager to hear.
नारायण उवाच जगन्मातुः सरस्वत्याः पूजाविधिसमन्विताम्
Nārāyaṇa said: The procedure for the worship of Sarasvatī, the mother of the world,
माघस्य शुक्लपञ्चम्यां विद्यारम्भदिनेऽपि च
On the fifth day of the bright fortnight of Māgha, or on the day of commencing studies,
स्नात्वा नित्यक्रियां कृत्वा घटं संस्थाप्य भक्तितः
After bathing and performing daily duties, one should establish a pot with devotion.
गणेशं च दिनेशं च वह्निं विष्णुं शिवं शिवाम्
Ganesha, the Sun, Fire, Viṣṇu, Śiva, and the goddess Śivā
ध्यानेन वक्ष्यमाणेन ध्यात्वा बाह्यघटे बुधः
Having meditated as will be described, the wise should meditate on them in the external pot.
पूजोपयुक्तं नैवेद्यं यद्यद्वेदे निरूपितम्
Whatever offerings are prescribed in the Vedas for worship and food presentation,
नवनीतं दधि क्षीरं लाजांश्च तिललड्डुकान्
Fresh butter, curd, milk, puffed rice, and sesame sweets,
स्वस्तिकं शर्करां शुक्लधान्यस्याक्षतमक्षतम् 2.4.
Swastika, sugar, unbroken grains of white rice,
घृतसैन्धवसंस्कारैर्हविष्यैर्व्यञ्जनैस्तथा
Clarified butter, salt-seasoned oblations, and various dishes,
पिष्टकं स्वस्तिकस्यापि पक्वरम्भाफलस्य च
Cakes, swastika, and ripe mango fruit,
नारिकेलं तदुदकं केशरं मूलमार्द्रकम् कालदेशोद्भवं पक्वफलं शुक्लं सुसंस्कृतम्
Coconut, its water, saffron, ginger root, ripe fruit produced according to time and place, white and well-prepared,
सुगन्धि शुक्लपुष्पं च गन्धाढ्यं शुक्लचन्दनम् माल्यं च शुक्लपुष्पाणां मुक्ताहीरादिभूषणम्
Fragrant white flowers, richly scented white sandalwood, garlands of white flowers, ornaments of pearls and gems,
यद्दृष्टं च श्रुतौ ध्यानं प्रशस्तं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
Whatever is seen or heard in the scriptures, meditation that is praised and beautiful in the Vedas,
सरस्वतीं शुक्लवर्णां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्
Sarasvati, radiant in white, smiling, exceedingly charming,
वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्
Clad in garments purified by fire, smiling, exceedingly charming,
सुपूजितां सुरगणैर्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादिभिः
Worshipped with devotion by the hosts of gods, by Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others,
एवं ध्यात्वा च मूलेन सर्वं दत्त्वा विचक्षणः
Thus meditating from the root, the wise one gives everything,
येषां स्यादिष्टदेवीयं तेषां नित्यं शुभं मुने 2.4.
For those whose chosen goddess is this, O sage, auspiciousness is always theirs.
सर्वोपयुक्तमूलं च वैदिकाष्टाक्षरः परः सरस्वती चतुर्थ्यन्तो वह्निजायान्त एव च
The root used for all offerings is the supreme Vedic eight-syllable mantra, ending with Sarasvati in the fourth case and with the wife of fire.
श्रीं ह्रीं सरस्वत्यै स्वाहा
"Śrīṃ Hrīṃ Sarasvatyai Svāhā."
पुरा नारायणश्चेमं वाल्मीकाय कृपानिधिः
Long ago, Narayana, the ocean of mercy, gave this to Valmiki,
भृगुर्ददौ च शुक्राय पुष्करे सूर्य्यपर्वणि
Bhrigu gave it to Shukra at Pushkara during the solar festival,
भृगवे च ददौ तुष्टो ब्रह्मा बदरिकाश्रमे विभाण्डको ददौ मेरावृष्यशृङ्गाय धीमते
Brahma, pleased, gave it to Bhrigu at the Badarika hermitage; Vibhāṇḍaka gave it to the wise Ṛṣyaśṛṅga on Mount Meru.
शिवः कणादमुनये गौतमाय ददौ मुने
Śiva gave to the sage Kaṇāda, and to Gautama, O sage.
शेषः पाणिनये चैव भरद्वाजाय धीमते
Śeṣa gave to Pāṇini, and to the wise Bharadvāja.
चतुर्लक्षजपेनैव मन्त्रसिद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्
By reciting it four hundred thousand times, the mantra's perfection is attained by people.
कवचं शृणु विप्रेन्द्र यद्दत्तं विधिना पुरा
Hear, O foremost of Brāhmins, the armor that was given by the Creator in ancient times.