अमावास्यां न भुञ्जीत एवं चान्द्रायणे विधिः । उपस्पृश्य त्रिषवणमेतच्चान्द्रायणं स्मृतम्
On the new moon day, one should not eat; thus is the rule for the Cāndrāyaṇa vow, performed with three daily ablutions, and this is known as the Cāndrāyaṇa.
चतुरः प्रातरश्नीयाद्विप्रः पिण्डात्कृताह्निकः । चतुरोऽस्तमिते सूर्ये शिशुचान्द्रायणं स्मृतम्
A brāhmaṇa, having performed his daily rites, should eat four lumps of food in the morning and four at sunset; this is called the Śiśu Cāndrāyaṇa.
अष्टावष्टौ समश्नीयात्पिण्डान्मध्यन्दिने स्थिते । नियतात्मा हविष्यस्य यतिचान्द्रायणं व्रतम्
One should eat eight lumps of food at midday, with self-restraint, using sacrificial food; this is the Yati Cāndrāyaṇa vow.
एतद्रुद्रास्तथादित्या वसवश्च चरन्ति हि । सर्वे कुशलिनो देवा मरुतश्च भुवा सह
The Rudras, Ādityas, Vasus, and all the auspicious gods, along with the Maruts and beings of earth, practice these vows.
एकैकं सप्तरात्रेण पुनाति विधिवत्कृतम् । त्वगसृक्पिशितास्थीनि मेदोमज्जावसास्तथा
Each vow, when performed according to rule for seven nights, purifies the skin, blood, flesh, bones, fat, marrow, and also the body’s oils.
एकैकं सप्तरात्रेण शुध्यत्येव न संशयः । एभिर्व्रतैर्विपूतात्मा कर्म कुर्वीत नित्यशः
Each vow, in seven nights, certainly brings purification—there is no doubt; with these vows, having purified himself, one should always perform his duties.
एवं शुद्धस्य कर्माणि सिध्यन्त्येव न संशयः । शुद्धात्मा कर्म कुर्वीत सत्यवादी जितेन्द्रियः
Thus, for one who is purified, actions surely succeed—there is no doubt; with a pure mind, one should act, speaking truth and mastering the senses.
इष्टान्कामांस्ततः सर्वान्सम्प्राप्नोति न संशयः । त्रिरात्रमेवोपवसेद्रहितः सर्वकर्मणा
Then, all desired wishes are attained—there is no doubt; one should fast for three nights, abstaining from all actions.
त्रीणि नक्तानि वा कुर्यात्ततः कर्म समारभेत् । एवं विधानं कथितं पुरश्चर्याफलप्रदम्
Or, one may perform three nights of fasting, eating only at night, and then begin the rites; thus, the procedure has been described which yields the fruits of preparation.
गायत्र्याश्च पुरश्चर्यां सर्वकामप्रदायिनी । कथिता तव देवर्षे महापापविनाशिनी
The procedure for the preparation of the Gāyatrī, which grants all desires and destroys great sins, has been explained to you, O divine sage.
आदौ कुर्याद्व्रतं मन्त्री देहशोधनकारकम् । पुरश्चर्यां ततः कुर्यात्समस्तफलभाग्भवेत्
First, the practitioner should undertake a vow that purifies the body; then, he should perform the preparation, thereby obtaining all results.
इति ते कथितं गुह्यं पुरश्चर्याविधानकम् । एतत्परस्मै नो वाच्यं श्रुतिसारं यतः स्मृतम्
Thus, the secret procedure for preparation has been told to you; this essence of the scriptures should not be spoken to anyone else.
प्रातश्चिन्तनम् नारद उवाच नारायण महाभाग गायत्र्यास्तु समासतः । शान्त्यादिकान्प्रयोगांस्तु वदस्व करुणानिधे
Nārada said: O Nārāyaṇa, greatly fortunate one, ocean of compassion, please briefly describe the applications of the Gāyatrī for peace and other purposes.
श्रीनारायण उवाच अतिगुह्यमिदं पृष्टं त्वया ब्रह्यतनूद्भव । न कस्यापि च वक्तव्यं दुष्टाय पिशुनाय च
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: You have asked about this most secret matter, O one born from the body of Brahmā; it must not be spoken to anyone wicked or deceitful.
अथ शान्तिः पयोऽक्ताभिः समिद्भिर्जुहुयाद् द्विजः । शमीसमिद्भिः शाम्यन्ति भूतरोगग्रहादयः
Now, for peace, a twice-born should offer oblations with the prescribed milk-wood sticks; with śamī wood sticks, afflictions from spirits, diseases, and planets are pacified.
आर्द्राभिः क्षीरवृक्षस्य समिद्भिर्जुहुयाद् द्विजः । जुहुयाच्छकलैर्वापि भूतरोगादिशान्तये
A twice-born should offer oblations with moist sticks of a milk-yielding tree, or with their pieces, for the pacification of afflictions from spirits and diseases.
जलेन तर्पयेत्सूर्यं पाणिभ्यां शान्तिमाप्नुयात् । जानुदघ्ने जले जप्त्वा सर्वान्दोषाञ्छमं नयेत्
By offering water to the Sun with his hands, one attains peace; by reciting in water up to the knees, one removes all faults.
कण्ठदघ्ने जले जप्त्वा मुच्येत्प्राणान्तिकाद्भयात् । सर्वेभ्यः शान्तिकर्मभ्यो निमज्याप्सु जपः स्मृतः
By reciting in water up to the throat, one is freed from the fear of death; among all rites for peace, recitation while immersed in water is prescribed.
सौवर्णे राजते वापि पात्रे ताम्रमयेऽपि वा । क्षीरवृक्षमये वापि निर्व्रणे मृण्मयेऽपि वा
In a vessel of gold, silver, copper, or even in a flawless earthen vessel made from a milk-yielding tree, one should perform the rite.
सहस्रं पञ्चगव्येन हुत्वा सुज्वलितेऽनले । क्षीरवृक्षमयैः काष्ठैः शेषं सम्पादयेच्छनैः
Having offered a thousand oblations with pañcagavya in a well-kindled fire, using sticks from milk-yielding trees, one should complete the rest slowly.
प्रत्याहुतिं स्पृशञ्जप्त्वा सहस्रं पात्रसंस्थितम् । तेन तं प्रोक्षयेद्देशं कुशैर्मन्त्रमनुस्मरन्
Touching each oblation and reciting, a thousand should be placed in the vessel; with that, one should sprinkle the place with kuśa grass, remembering the mantra.
बलिं किरंस्ततस्तस्मिन्ध्यायेत्तु परदेवताम् । अभिचारसमुत्पन्ना कृत्या पापं च नश्यति
Then, casting the offering there, one should meditate on the Supreme Goddess; any evil arising from sorcery or sin is destroyed.
देवभूतपिशाचाद्यान् यद्येवं कुरुते वशे । गृहं ग्रामं पुरं राष्ट्रं सर्वं तेभ्यो विमुच्यते
If one does this, beings such as gods, spirits, and piśācas are brought under control; house, village, city, or kingdom—all are freed from them.
निखने मुच्यते तेभ्यो लिखने मध्यतोऽपि च । मण्डले शूलमालिख्य पूर्वोक्ते च क्रमेऽपि वा
By burying or inscribing, or even in the middle, one is freed from them; or by drawing a trident in a circle, or by the previously mentioned method.
अभिमन्त्र्य सहस्रं तन्निखनेत्सर्वशान्तये । सौवर्णं राजतं वापि कुम्भं ताम्रमयं च वा
Having empowered it with a thousand mantras, one should bury it for complete pacification; in a golden, silver, copper, or earthen pot.
मृण्मयं वा नवं दिव्यं सूत्रवेष्टितमव्रणम् । स्थण्डिले सैकते स्थाप्य पूरयेन्मन्त्रविज्जलैः
Or in a new, flawless, divine earthen pot wrapped with thread; placing it on a raised or sandy spot, one should fill it with water empowered by mantra.
दिग्भ्य आहृत्य तीर्थानि चतसृभ्यो द्विजोत्तमैः । एलाचन्दनकर्पूरजातीपाटलमल्लिकाः
Having brought water from the four directions by excellent twice-borns, and adding cardamom, sandalwood, camphor, jātī, pāṭala, and jasmine flowers,
बिल्वपत्रं तथा क्रान्तां देवीं व्रीहियवांस्तिलान् । सर्षपान्क्षीरवृक्षाणां प्रवालानि च निक्षिपेत्
One should place bilva leaves, krāntā, the Goddess, rice, barley, sesame seeds, mustard seeds, and the sprouts of milk-yielding trees.
सर्वाण्यभिविधायैव कुशकूर्चसमन्वितम् । स्नातः समाहितो विप्रः सहस्रं मन्त्रयेद् बुधः
Having arranged all these, along with a bundle of kuśa grass, a wise and purified brāhmaṇa, with concentration, should recite the mantra a thousand times.
दिक्षु सौरानधीयीरन्मन्त्रान्विप्रास्त्रयीविदः । प्रोक्षयेत्पाययेदेनं नीरं तेनाभिषिञ्चयेत्
In the directions, brāhmaṇas learned in the three Vedas should recite Sāvitrī mantras; with that water, one should sprinkle, make drink, and anoint.