सर्वे देवाश्च मुनयो नृपाश्च मानवादयः । बभूव पूजिता नित्यं सर्वलोकैः सरस्वती
All the gods, sages, kings, and men—Sarasvati became ever worshipped by all the worlds.
नारद उवाच पूजाविधानं कवचं ध्यानं चापि निरन्तरम् । पूजोपयुक्तं नैवेद्यं पुष्पं च चन्दनादिकम्
Narada said: The procedure of worship, the amulet, the meditation, the offerings suitable for worship, food, flowers, and sandal paste—
वद वेदविदां श्रेष्ठ श्रोतुं कौतूहलं मम । वर्तते हृदये शश्वत्किमिदं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
Tell me, O best of those who know the Vedas, for I have a constant curiosity in my heart to hear this beautiful teaching.
श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु नारद वक्ष्यामि कण्वशाखोक्तपद्धतिम् । जगन्मातुः सरस्वत्याः पूजाविधिसमन्विताम्
Sri Narayana said: Listen, Narada, I will tell you the method taught in the Kanva branch, complete with the procedure for the worship of Mother Sarasvati.
माघस्य शुक्लपञ्चम्यां विद्यारम्भदिनेऽपि च । पूर्वेऽह्नि समयं कृत्वा तत्राह्नि संयतः शुचिः
On the fifth day of the bright half of Magha, or on the day of commencing learning, having fixed the time the previous day, one should be self-controlled and pure on that day.
स्नात्वा नित्यक्रियाः कृत्वा घटं संस्थाप्य भक्तितः । स्वशाखोक्तविधानेन तान्त्रिकेणाथवा पुनः
Having bathed and performed daily duties, one should establish a pot with devotion, according to the procedure taught in one's own branch, or by the Tantric method.
गणेशं पूर्वमभ्यर्च्य ततोऽभीष्टां प्रपूजयेत् । ध्यानेन वक्ष्यमाणेन ध्यात्वा बाह्यघटे ध्रुवम्
First worship Ganesha, then worship the desired deity; meditating as will be described, one should meditate on the external pot as fixed.
ध्यात्वा पुनः षोडषोपचारेण पूजयेद् व्रती । पूजोपयुक्तं नैवेद्यं यच्च वेदनिरूपितम्
Then, having meditated, the votary should worship with the sixteen services; and offer the food and other items prescribed by the Vedas for worship.
वक्ष्यामि सौम्य तत्किञ्चिद्यथाधीतं यथागमम् । नवनीतं दधि क्षीरं लाजांश्च तिललड्डुकम्
O gentle one, I shall now tell you, as I have studied and as it is prescribed, about offerings such as fresh butter, curd, milk, parched rice, and sesame balls.
इक्षुमिक्षुरसं शुक्लवर्णं पञ्चगुडं मधु । स्वस्तिकं शर्करां शुक्लधान्यस्याक्षतमक्षतम्
Sugarcane, sugarcane juice, white-colored five kinds of jaggery, honey, sacred rice, crystal sugar, and unbroken white grains of rice.
अच्छिन्नशुक्लधान्यस्य पृथुकं शुक्लमोदकम् । घृतसैन्धवसंयुक्तं हविष्यान्नं यथोदितम्
Unbroken white grains of rice, flattened rice, white sweet cakes, and sacrificial food prepared as prescribed, mixed with ghee and rock salt.
यवगोधूमचूर्णानां पिष्टकं घृतसंयुतम् । पिष्टकं स्वस्तिकस्यापि पक्वरम्भाफलस्य च
Cakes made from barley and wheat flour, mixed with ghee; cakes of sacred rice, and ripe mango fruit as well.
परमान्नं च सघृतं मिष्टान्नं च सुधोपमम् । नारिकेलं तदुदकं कसेरुं मूलमार्द्रकम्
Paramanna with ghee, sweet rice like nectar, coconut and its water, the kernel, and fresh ginger root.
पक्वरम्भाफलं चारु श्रीफलं बदरीफलम् । कालदेशोद्भवं चारु फलं शुक्लं च संस्कतम्
Ripe mango, beautiful bilva fruit, jujube fruit, and other delightful fruits that are white and properly prepared, born in their proper season and place.
सुगन्धं शुक्लपुष्पं च सुगन्धं शुक्लचन्दनम् । नवीनं शुक्लवस्त्रं च शङ्खं च सुन्दरं मुने
Fragrant white flowers, fragrant white sandalwood, new white garments, and a beautiful conch, O sage.
माल्यं च शुक्लपुष्पाणां शुक्लहारं च भूषणम् । यादृशं च श्रुतौ ध्यानं प्रशस्यं श्रुतिसुन्दरम्
A garland of white flowers, a white necklace as an ornament, and the kind of meditation praised in the scriptures, beautiful to hear.
तन्निबोध महाभाग भ्रमभञ्जनकारणम् । सरस्वतीं शुक्लवर्णां सस्मितां सुमनोहराम्
Learn that, O highly fortunate one, which dispels confusion: Sarasvati, white in color, smiling, and supremely charming.
कोटिचन्द्रप्रभामुष्टपुष्टश्रीयुक्तविग्रहाम् । वह्निशुद्धांशुकाधानां वीणापुस्तकधारिणीम्
Her form is endowed with the radiance of ten million moons, full of beauty and prosperity, clad in garments purified by fire, holding a vina and a book.
रत्नसारेन्द्रनिर्माणनवभूषणभूषिताम् । सुपूजितां सुरगणैर्ब्रह्मविष्णुशिवादिभिः
Adorned with new ornaments made of the finest jewels and gold, she is worshipped by the hosts of gods, including Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
वन्दे भक्त्या वन्दितां च मुनीन्द्रमनुमानवैः । एवं ध्यात्वा च मूलेन सर्वं दत्त्वा विचक्षणः
I bow with devotion to her, who is also worshipped by the foremost sages and men; having meditated thus at the root, and having offered everything, the wise one—
संस्तूय कवचं धृत्वा प्रणमेद्दण्डवद्भुवि । येषां चेयमिष्टदेवी तेषां नित्यक्रिया मुने
Having praised her, donned the protective mantra, he should bow down on the ground; for those whose chosen deity is this goddess, this is their daily practice, O sage.
विद्यारम्भे च वर्षान्ते सर्वेषां पञ्चमीदिने । सर्वोपयुक्तं मूलं च वैदिकाष्टाक्षरः परः
At the beginning of studies, at the end of the year, and on the fifth day for all, the root mantra is always used, and the supreme Vedic eight-syllabled mantra.
येषां येनोपदेशो वा तेषां स मूल एव च । सरस्वती चतुर्थ्यन्तं वह्निजायान्तमेव च
For those to whom it has been taught, that is their root mantra; Sarasvati's mantra ending with 'caturthi' and 'vahnijāyā' as well.
लक्ष्मीमायादिकं चैव मन्त्रोऽयं कल्पपादपः । पुरा नारायणश्चेमं वाल्मीकाय कृपानिधिः
This mantra, beginning with Lakshmi and Maya, is the wish-fulfilling tree; formerly, compassionate Narayana gave it to Valmiki.
प्रददौ जाह्नवीतीरे पुण्यक्षेत्रे च भारते । भृगुर्ददौ च शुक्राय पुष्करे सूर्यपर्वणि
He gave it on the banks of the Ganges, in the holy land of Bharata; Bhrigu gave it to Shukra at Pushkara during the solar festival.
चन्द्रपर्वणि मारीचो ददौ वाक्पतये मुदा । भृगोश्चैव ददौ तुष्टो ब्रह्मा बदरिकाश्रमे
On the lunar festival, Marichi gladly gave it to Vakpati; and Brahma, pleased with Bhrigu, gave it at Badarika Ashrama.
आस्तिकस्य जरत्कारुर्ददौ क्षीरोदसन्निधौ । विभाण्डको ददौ मेरौ ऋष्यशृङ्गाय धीमते
Jaratkaru, the son of Āstika, gave (the knowledge) at the shore of the Milk Ocean; Vibhāṇḍaka gave it to the wise Ṛṣyaśṛṅga on Mount Meru.
शिवः कणादमुनये गौतमाय ददौ मुदा । सूर्यश्च याज्ञवल्क्याय तथा कात्यायनाय च
Śiva joyfully gave it to Kaṇāda Muni and to Gautama; likewise, Sūrya gave it to Yājñavalkya and also to Kātyāyana.
शेषः पाणिनये चैव भारद्वाजाय धीमते । ददौ शाकटायनाय सुतले बलिसंसदि
Śeṣa gave it to Pāṇini and to the wise Bhāradvāja; he gave it to Śākaṭāyana in the assembly of Bali in Sutala.
चतुर्लक्षजपेनैव मन्त्रः सिद्धो भवेन्नृणाम् । यदि स्यान्मन्त्रसिद्धो हि बृहस्पतिसमो भवेत्
By reciting it four hundred thousand times, the mantra becomes perfected for people; if one attains mantra-siddhi, he becomes equal to Bṛhaspati.