नेत्रमन्त्रेण तं शिष्यं कुण्डतो मण्डलं नयेत् । पुष्पाञ्जलिं मुख्यदेव्यां कारयेच्छिष्यहस्ततः
With the eye-mantra, the teacher should lead the disciple from the fire-pit to the maṇḍala; then, he should have the disciple offer a handful of flowers to the principal goddess.
नेत्रबन्धं निराकृत्य वेशयेत्कुशविष्टरे । भूतशुद्धिं शिष्यदेहे कुर्यात्प्रोक्तेन वर्त्मना
After removing the eye-covering, the teacher should seat the disciple on a seat of kuśa grass; he should perform the purification of elements in the disciple’s body by the prescribed method.
मन्त्रोदितांस्तथा न्यासान्कृत्वा शिष्यतनौ ततः । मण्डले वेशयेच्छिष्यमन्यस्मिन्कुम्भसंस्थितान्
Then, having performed the nyāsas as prescribed by the mantra on the disciple’s body, he should seat the disciple in the maṇḍala and others who are established in the vessel.
पल्लवाञ्छिष्यशिरसि विन्यसेन्मातृकां जपेत् । कलशस्थजलैः शिष्यं स्नापयेद्देवतात्मकैः
He should place leaves on the disciple’s head and recite the mātṛkā; then, with water from the vessel, embodying the deity, he should bathe the disciple.
वर्धनीजलसेकं च कुर्याद्रक्षार्थमञ्जसा । ततः शिष्यः समुत्थाय वाससी परिधाय च
He should perform the pouring of growth-water for protection; then, the disciple should rise and put on the garments.
कृतभस्मावलेपश्च संविशेद्गुरुसन्निधौ । ततो गुरुः स्वकीयात्तु हृदयान्निर्गतां शिवाम्
Having applied sacred ash, the disciple should sit in the presence of the teacher; then, the teacher, from his own heart, should contemplate the auspicious power that has entered the disciple’s heart.
प्रविष्टां शिष्यहृदये भावयेत्करुणानिधिः । पूजयेद्गन्धपुष्पाद्यैरैक्यं वै भावयंस्तयोः
The teacher, full of compassion, should contemplate that which has entered the disciple’s heart; worshipping with fragrance, flowers, and so on, he should meditate on the unity of the two.
ततस्त्रिंशो दक्षकर्णे शिष्यस्योपदिशेद्गुरुः । महामन्त्रं महादेव्याः स्वहस्तं शिरसि न्यसन्
Then, the teacher should instruct the disciple in the great mantra of the Great Goddess in the right ear, placing his own hand on the disciple’s head.
अष्टोत्तरशतं मन्त्रं शिष्योऽपि प्रजपेन्मुने । दण्डवत्प्रणमेद्भूमौ तं गुरुं देवतात्मकम्
The disciple, O sage, should recite the mantra one hundred and eight times, and prostrate himself like a staff on the ground before the teacher, who embodies the deity.
सर्वस्वमर्पयेत्तस्मै यावज्जीवमनन्यधीः । ऋत्विग्भ्यो दक्षिणां दत्त्वा ब्राह्मणांश्चापि भोजयेत्
He should offer everything to him, with undivided mind, for as long as he lives; after giving gifts to the officiants, he should also feed the brāhmaṇas.
सुवासिनीः कुमारीश्च बटुकांश्चैव सर्वशः । दीनानाथान्दरिद्रांश्च वित्तशाठ्यविवर्जितः
He should, without miserliness, honor all married women, maidens, and boys, as well as the poor, the helpless, and the destitute.
कृतार्थतां स्वस्य बुद्ध्वा नित्यमाराधयेन्मनुम् । इति ते कथितः सम्यग्दीक्षाविधिरनुत्तमः
Recognizing that his purpose has been fulfilled, he should always worship the mantra; thus, the supreme rite of initiation has been properly described to you.
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण भज देवीपदाम्बुजम् । नान्यस्तु परमो धर्मो ब्राह्मणस्यात्र विद्यते
Reflecting thoroughly on this, worship the lotus feet of the Goddess; for the brāhmaṇa, there is no higher dharma here than this.
वैदिकः स्वस्वगृह्योक्तक्रमेणोपदिशेन्मनुम् । तान्त्रिकस्तन्त्ररीत्या तु स्थितिरेषा सनातनी
The Vedic teacher should instruct the mantra according to his own tradition; the Tantric teacher should do so according to the Tantric method—this is the eternal practice.
तत्तदुक्तप्रयोगांस्ते ते ते कुर्युर्न चान्यथा । श्रीनारायण उवाच इति सर्वं मयाख्यातं यत्पृष्टं नारद त्वया
They will perform those prescribed acts exactly as stated, and not otherwise. Shri Narayana said: Thus, O Narada, I have explained everything you asked.
अतः परं पराम्बाया भज नित्यं पदाम्बुजम् । नित्यमाराध्य तच्चाहं निर्वृतिं परमां गतः
Therefore, always worship the lotus feet of the Supreme Mother; by constantly adoring Her, I myself have attained the highest bliss.
व्यास उवाच इति राजन्नारदाय प्रोक्त्वा सर्वमनुत्तमम् । समाधिमीलिताक्षस्तु दध्यौ देवीपदाम्बुजम्
Vyasa said: Having thus spoken everything excellent to Narada, O King, he closed his eyes in meditation and contemplated the lotus feet of the Goddess.
नारायणस्तु भगवान् मुनिवर्यशिखामणिः । नारदोऽपि ततो नत्वा गुरुं नारायणं परम् । जगाम सद्यस्तपसे देवीदर्शनलालसः
The blessed Narayana, the foremost among sages, and Narada, after bowing to his supreme guru Narayana, at once departed for austerities, longing for a vision of the Goddess.
पराशक्तेराविर्भाववर्णनम् जनमेजय उवाच भगवन्सर्वधर्मज्ञ सर्वशास्त्रवतांवर । द्विजातीनां तु सर्वेषां शक्त्युपास्तिः श्रुतीरिता
Description of the Manifestation of the Supreme Power. Janamejaya said: O revered one, knower of all dharma, best among those versed in all scriptures, the worship of Shakti is prescribed in the Vedas for all twice-born.
सन्ध्याकालत्रयेऽन्यस्मिन् काले नित्यतया विभो । तां विहाय द्विजाः कस्माद्गृह्णीयुश्चान्यदेवताः
O Lord, at the three sandhya times and at other times as well, why would the twice-born abandon that worship and take up other deities?
दृश्यन्ते वैष्णवाः केचिद्गाणपत्यास्तथापरे । कापालिकाश्चीनमार्गरता वल्कलधारिणः
Some are seen as Vaishnavas, others as Ganapatyas; some are Kapalikas, followers of the path of the Chinas, and wearers of bark garments.
दिगम्बरास्तथा बौद्धाश्चार्वार्का एवमादयः । दृश्यन्ते बहवो लोके वेदश्रद्धाविवर्जिताः
There are also Digambaras, Buddhists, Charvakas, and others like them; many such people are seen in the world, lacking faith in the Vedas.
किमत्र कारणं ब्रह्मंस्तद्भवान् वक्तुमर्हति । बुद्धिमन्तः पण्डिताश्च नानातर्कविचक्षणाः
What is the reason for this, O Brahman? You are worthy to explain it. Even the wise and learned, skilled in various arguments—
अपि सन्त्येव वेदेषु श्रद्धया तु विवर्जिताः । न हि कश्चित्स्वकल्याणं बुद्ध्या हातुमिहेच्छति
—are indeed found among the Vedas, yet lacking in faith. For no one wishes, by reason, to abandon their own welfare.
किमत्र कारणं तस्माद्वद वेदविदांवर । मणिद्वीपस्य महिमा वर्णितो भवता पुरा
What, then, is the cause of this? Therefore, O best of those who know the Vedas, tell me. You have previously described the greatness of Manidvipa.
कीदृक् तदस्ति यद्देव्याः परं स्थानं महत्तरम् । तच्चापि वद भक्ताय श्रद्दधानाय मेऽनघ
What is that supreme and greater abode of the Goddess? Please tell me that also, O sinless one, for I am a devoted and faithful seeker.
प्रसन्नास्तु वदन्त्येव गुरवो गुह्यमप्युत । सूत उवाच इति राज्ञो वचः श्रुत्वा भगवान् बादरायणः
When pleased, teachers indeed reveal even secret knowledge. Suta said: Having heard the king’s words, the blessed Badarayana—
निजगाद ततः सर्वं क्रमेणैव मुनीश्वराः । यच्छ्रुत्वा तु द्विजातीनां वेदश्रद्धा विवर्धते
—then narrated everything in order, O best of sages; hearing which, the faith of the twice-born in the Vedas increases.
व्यास उवाच सम्यक्पृष्टं त्वया राजन् समये समयोचितम् । वुद्धिमानसि वेदेषु श्रद्धावांश्चैव लक्ष्यसे
Vyasa said: You have asked rightly, O King, at the proper time and in the proper manner; you are seen to be wise and full of faith in the Vedas.
पूर्वं मदोद्धता दैत्या देवैर्युद्धं तु चक्रिरे । शतवर्षं महाराज महाविस्मयकारकम्
Formerly, the arrogant Daityas fought with the gods, O great king, for a hundred years—a battle causing great wonder.