ब्रह्माणीं वैष्णवीं चैव रौद्रीं माहेश्वरीं तथा
Brahmāṇī, Vaiṣṇavī, Raudrī, and also Māheśvarī,
सर्वशक्तिस्वरूपां च प्रधानां सर्वमङ्गलाम्
The one who is the form of all powers, the chief, the source of all auspiciousness,
शङ्करं कार्त्तिकेयं च सूर्य्यं सोमं हुताशनम्
Śaṅkara, Kārttikeya, Sūrya, Soma, and Hutāśana,
चतुष्षष्टिं योगिनीनां संपूज्य विधिपूर्वकम् 2.64.
And, according to the proper rite, the sixty-four Yoginīs should be worshipped.
कवचं च गले बद्ध्वा पठित्वा भक्तिपूर्वकम्
Having fastened the protective amulet on the neck and recited it with devotion,
बलिदानविधानं च श्रूयतां मुनिसत्तम
Now hear, O best of sages, the procedure for offering the oblation.
सहस्रवर्षं सुप्रीता दुर्गा मायातिदानतः
For a thousand years, pleased, Durgā grants boons beyond measure through her great power of illusion.
वर्षं मेषेण कूष्माण्डैः पक्षिभिर्हरिणैस्तथा
For a year, offerings are made with rams, gourds, birds, and deer as well.
कृत्रिमैः पिष्टकलितैः षण्मासं पशुभिस्तथा
For six months, with artificial, flour-made images and also with animals.
युवकं व्याधिहीनं च सशृंगं लक्षणान्वितम्
A young man, free from disease, possessing horns and endowed with auspicious marks.
शिशुना बलिना दातुर्हन्ति पुत्रं च चण्डिका
By offering a strong child, the donor's son is slain by Caṇḍikā.
घुटिकेन भवेन्मृत्युर्विघ्नं स्याच्चित्रमस्तकैः
Death results from a doll; obstacles arise from those with strange heads.
मायातीनां स्वरूपं च श्रूयतां मुनिसत्तम 2.64.
Now hear, O best of sages, the true nature of those who have transcended illusion.
पितृमातृविहीनं च युवकं व्याधिवर्जितम्
A young man, bereft of father and mother, and free from disease.
अजारजं विशुद्धं च सच्छूद्रपरिपोषितम्
Unborn from adultery, pure, and well-nourished by good Śūdras.
स्नापयित्वा च तं कर्त्ता पूजयेद्वस्त्रचन्दनैः
After bathing him, the performer should worship him with cloth and sandalwood.
तं च वर्षं भ्रामयित्वा भृत्यद्वारेण यत्नतः
Having made him wander for a year, carefully, through a servant.
अष्टमीनवमीसन्धौ दद्यान्मायातिमेव च
At the conjunction of the eighth and ninth lunar days, one should offer to Māyātī.
बलिं स्तुत्वा च दत्त्वा च धृत्वा च कवचं बुधः
Having praised and given the offering, and having worn the armor, the wise one.
नारद उवाच स्तोत्रं च कवचं पूजाफलं कालं वद प्रभो
Nārada said: Tell me, O Lord, the hymn, the armor, the fruit of worship, and the proper time.
नारायण उवाच उत्तरेणार्च्चयित्वा तां श्रवणायां विसर्जयेत्
Nārāyaṇa said: After worshipping her in the north, one should immerse her during the Śravaṇā star.
आर्द्रायुक्तनवम्यां तु कृत्वा देव्याश्च बोधनम्
On the ninth day joined with the Ārdrā star, one should awaken the goddess.
मूलायां तु प्रवेशे च नरमेधफलं लभेत्
On entering the Mūlā star, one attains the fruit of a human sacrifice.
कृत्वा विसर्जनं देव्याः श्रवणायां च मानवः
Having performed the immersion of the goddess during the Śravaṇā star, a man...
भुवः प्रदक्षिणं पुण्यं पूजायां लभते नरः
A man attains the merit of circumambulating the earth by performing worship.
नवम्यां बोधनं कृत्वा पक्षं संपूज्य मानवः
On the ninth day, after awakening the deity and duly honoring the fortnight, a person should perform worship.
सप्तम्यां पूजनं कृत्वा बलिं दद्याद्विचक्षणः
On the seventh day, having performed worship, the wise should offer a sacrificial oblation.
अष्टम्यां बलिदानेन विपत्तिर्जायते नृणाम्
On the eighth day, by giving a sacrificial oblation, misfortune arises for people.
बलिदानेन विप्रेन्द्र दुर्गाप्रीतिर्भवेन्नृणाम् 2.65.
By giving a sacrificial oblation, O best of Brahmins, the goddess Durgā becomes pleased with people.
उत्सर्गकर्त्ता दाता च च्छेत्ता पोष्टा च रक्षकः
The one who performs the offering, the giver, the one who cuts, the nourisher, and the protector—