वायुमण्डलमध्यस्था विष्णुरूपा विधिप्रिया । विष्णुपत्नी विष्णुमती विशालाक्षी वसुन्धरा
She dwells in the midst of the sphere of air, of Vishnu's form, dear to Brahma; the wife of Vishnu, endowed with Vishnu's qualities, wide-eyed, and the earth itself.
वामदेवप्रिया वेला वज्रिणी वसुदोहिनी । वेदाक्षरपरीताङ्गी वाजपेयफलप्रदा
Beloved of Vamadeva, she is the shore, wielder of the thunderbolt, bestower of wealth; her limbs are pervaded by the syllables of the Veda, and she grants the fruits of the Vajapeya sacrifice.
वासवी वामजननी वैकुण्ठनिलया वरा । व्यासप्रिया वर्मधरा वाल्मीकिपरिसेविता
She is the daughter of Vasava, mother of the left side, dwelling in Vaikuntha, the best; beloved of Vyasa, bearer of armor, and served by Valmiki.
शाकम्भरी शिवा शान्ता शारदा शरणागतिः । शातोदरी शुभाचारा शुम्भासुरविमर्दिनी
She is Shakambhari, auspicious, peaceful, Sharada, the refuge of those who seek shelter; slender-waisted, of virtuous conduct, and the crusher of the demon Shumbha.
शोभावती शिवाकारा शङ्करार्धशरीरिणी । शोणा शुभाशया शुभ्रा शिरःसन्धानकारिणी
She is radiant, of auspicious form, sharing half the body of Shankara; red-hued, of auspicious intent, bright, and the one who joins severed heads.
शरावती शरानन्दा शरज्ज्योत्स्ना शुभानना । शरभा शूलिनी शुद्धा शबरी शुकवाहना
She is endowed with arrows, delighting in arrows, the autumn moonlight, of auspicious face; the form of Sharabha, bearer of the trident, pure, Shabari, and riding a parrot.
श्रीमती श्रीधरानन्दा श्रवणानन्ददायिनी । शर्वाणी शर्वरीवन्द्या षड्भाषा षड्ऋतुप्रिया
She is glorious, delight of Shridhara, giver of joy to the ears; consort of Shiva, worshipped at night, skilled in six languages, and fond of the six seasons.
षडाधारस्थिता देवी षण्मुखप्रियकारिणी । षडङ्गरूपसुमतिसुरासुरनमस्कृता
The goddess abides in the six centers, acts for the pleasure of Karttikeya, assumes the six-limbed form, and is worshipped by gods and demons.
सरस्वती सदाधारा सर्वमङ्गलकारिणी । सामगानप्रिया सूक्ष्मा सावित्री सामसम्भवा
She is Sarasvati, the constant support, the doer of all auspiciousness; fond of Sama chants, subtle, Savitri, and born from the Sama Veda.
सर्वावासा सदानन्दा सुस्तनी सागराम्बरा । सर्वैश्वर्यप्रिया सिद्धिः साधुबन्धुपराक्रमा
She is the abode of all, ever blissful, with beautiful breasts, clothed in the ocean; fond of all prosperity, accomplishment itself, and the valor of the friends of the virtuous.
सप्तर्षिमण्डलगता सोममण्डलवासिनी । सर्वज्ञा सान्द्रकरुणा समानाधिकवर्जिता
She dwells among the constellation of the seven sages, abides in the orb of the moon; all-knowing, of deep compassion, and without equal or superior.
सर्वोत्तुङ्गा सङ्गहीना सद्गुणा सकलेष्टदा । सरघा सूर्यतनया सुकेशी सोमसंहतिः
She is highest among all, free from attachment, endowed with virtues, giver of all desired things; destroyer of enemies, daughter of the Sun, with beautiful hair, and the essence of the moon.
हिरण्यवर्णा हरिणी ह्रींकारी हंसवाहिनी । क्षौमवस्त्रपरीताङ्गी क्षीराब्धितनया क्षमा
She is golden-hued, deer-like, uttering the syllable 'Hrīṃ', riding a swan, her body adorned with fine linen garments, the daughter of the milk ocean, and the embodiment of forbearance.
गायत्री चैव सावित्री पार्वती च सरस्वती । वेदगर्भा वरारोहा श्रीगायत्री पराम्बिका
She is Gayatri, indeed Savitri, Parvati, and Sarasvati; she who holds the Vedas within, of noble form, the auspicious Gayatri, the supreme Mother.
इति साहस्रकं नाम्नां गायत्र्याश्चैव नारद । पुण्यदं सर्वपापघ्नं महासम्पत्तिदायकम्
Thus, O Narada, this thousand names of Gayatri, bestower of merit, destroyer of all sins, and giver of great prosperity.
एवं नामानि गायत्र्यास्तोषोत्पत्तिकराणि हि । अष्टम्यां च विशेषेण पठितव्यं द्विजैः सह
In this way, these names of Gayatri bring about satisfaction; especially on the eighth lunar day, they should be recited together with the twice-born.
जपं कृत्वा होमपूजाध्यानं कृत्वा विशेषतः । यस्मै कस्मै न दातव्यं गायत्र्यास्तु विशेषतः
Having performed recitation, fire-offering, worship, and meditation in particular, this should not be given to just anyone, especially concerning Gayatri.
सुभक्ताय सुशिष्याय वक्तव्यं भूसुराय वै । भ्रष्टेभ्यः साधकेभ्यश्च बान्धवेभ्यो न दर्शयेत्
It should be spoken to a devoted, worthy disciple, indeed to a Brahmin; it must not be shown to the fallen, the unfit, or to relatives.
यद्गृहे लिखितं शास्त्रं भयं तस्य न कस्यचित् । चञ्चलापि स्थिरा भूत्वा कमला तत्र तिष्ठति
In whatever house this scripture is written, there is no fear for anyone; even the fickle goddess Lakshmi remains there, becoming steadfast.
इदं रहस्यं परमं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं महत् । पुण्यप्रदं मनुष्याणां दरिद्राणां निधिप्रदम्
This is a supreme secret, more hidden than the most hidden, and great; it bestows merit upon people and grants treasure to the poor.
मोक्षप्रदं मुमुक्षूणां कामिनां सर्वकामदम् । रोगाद्वै मुच्यते रोगी बद्धो मुच्येत बन्धनात्
It grants liberation to those who seek it, fulfills all desires for those who desire, the sick are freed from disease, the bound are released from bondage.
बह्महत्यासुरापानसुवर्णस्तेयिनो नराः । गुरुतल्पगतो वापि पातकान्मुच्यते सकृत्
Those who have committed the great sin of killing a Brahmin, drinking liquor, stealing gold, or approaching the teacher's wife, are freed from sins even by a single recitation.
असत्प्रतिग्रहाच्चैवाभक्ष्यभक्षाद्विशेषतः । पाखण्डानृतमुख्येभ्यः पठनादेव मुच्यते
Also from improper gifts, especially from eating forbidden food, and from association with heretics and liars, one is freed simply by recitation.
इदं रहस्यममलं मयोक्तं पद्मजोद्भव । ब्रह्मसायुज्यदं नॄणां सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः
This pure secret has been spoken by me, O you born from the lotus; it grants union with Brahman to people—this is the truth, the truth, without doubt.
मन्त्रदीक्षाविधिवर्णनम् नारद उवाच श्रुतं सहस्रनामाख्यं श्रीगायत्र्याः फलप्रदम् । स्तोत्रं महोन्नतिकरं महाभाग्यकरं परम्
The Description of the Rite of Initiation into the Mantra
अधुना श्रोतुमिच्छामि दीक्षालक्षणमुत्तमम् । विना येन न सिध्येत देवीमन्त्रेऽधिकारिता
Now I wish to hear the supreme characteristics of initiation, without which one is not qualified for the mantra of the Goddess.
ब्राह्मणानां क्षत्रियाणां विशां स्त्रीणां तथैव च । सामान्यविधिना सर्वं विस्तरेण वद प्रभो
For Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and women as well, by the general rule, tell everything in detail, O Lord.
श्रीनारायण उवाच शृणु दीक्षां प्रवक्ष्यामि शिष्याणां भावितात्मनाम् । देवाग्निगुरुपूजादावधिकारो यया भवेत्
Sri Narayana said: Listen, I will explain the initiation for disciples whose minds are purified, by which one becomes qualified for the worship of the gods, fire, and teacher.
दिव्यं ज्ञानं हि या दद्यात्कुर्यात्पापक्षयं तु या । सैव दीक्षेति सम्प्रोक्ता वेदतन्त्रविशारदैः
That which gives divine knowledge and destroys sin is indeed called initiation by those skilled in the Vedas and Tantras.
अवश्यं सा तु कर्तव्या यतो बहुफला मता । गुरुशिष्यावुभावत्राप्यतिशुद्धावपेक्षितौ
It must certainly be performed, for it is considered to yield many fruits; both the teacher and the disciple are required to be extremely pure therein.