तस्मात्तत्र प्रकर्तव्यं चण्डिकापूजनं बुधैः । चैत्राश्विने शुभे मासे भक्तिपूर्वं नराधिप
Therefore, the wise should perform the worship of Caṇḍikā in the auspicious months of Caitra and Āśvina, O King, with devotion.
अमावास्यां च सम्प्राप्य सम्भारं कल्पयेच्छुभम् । हविष्यं चाशनं कार्यमेकभुक्तं तु तद्दिने
On the arrival of the new moon, one should prepare the necessary items auspiciously; on that day, one should eat only once, taking havis food.
मण्डपस्तु प्रकर्तव्यः समे देशे शुभे स्थले । हस्तषोडशमानेन स्तम्भध्वजसमन्वितः
A pavilion should be constructed on level ground in an auspicious place, measuring sixteen cubits, furnished with pillars and a banner.
गौरमृद्गोमयाभ्यां च लेपनं कारयेत्ततः । तन्मध्ये वेदिका शुभ्रा कर्तव्या च समा स्थिरा
Then, the ground should be plastered with white clay and cow dung; in the center, a pure, steady altar should be made.
चतुर्हस्ता च हस्तोच्छ्रा पीठार्थं स्थानमुत्तमम् । तोरणानि विचित्राणि वितानञ्च प्रकल्पयेत्
The altar should be four cubits square and as high as a hand, serving as the best seat; one should arrange beautiful gateways and a canopy.
रात्रौ द्विजानथामन्त्र्य देवीतत्त्वविशारदान् । आचारनिरतान्दान्तान्वेदवेदाङ्गपारगान्
At night, one should invite Brāhmaṇas who are well-versed in the truth of the Goddess, devoted to proper conduct, self-controlled, and learned in the Vedas and Vedāṅgas.
प्रतिपद्दिवसे कार्यं प्रातःस्नानं विधानतः । नद्यां नदे तडागे वा वाप्यां कूपे गृहेऽथवा
On the first day, one should bathe in the morning according to the rules, in a river, stream, pond, reservoir, well, or at home.
प्रातर्नित्यं पुरः कृत्वा द्विजानां वरणं ततः । अर्घ्यपाद्यादिकं सर्वं कर्तव्यं मधुपूर्वकम्
In the morning, after respectfully inviting the Brāhmaṇas, one should offer them all the customary items, beginning with arghya and pādya, along with honey.
वस्त्रालङ्करणादीनि देयानि च स्वशक्तितः । वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यं विभवे सति कर्हिचित्
Clothing, ornaments, and similar items should be given according to one's ability; never act with miserliness regarding wealth when in prosperity.
विप्रैः सन्तोषितैः कार्यं सम्पूर्णं सर्वथा भवेत् । नव पञ्च त्रयश्चैको देव्याः पाठे द्विजाः स्मृताः
The task should be completed in every way with the satisfaction of the Brahmins; nine, five, three, or even one Brahmin is prescribed for the recitation of the Goddess’s text.
वरयेद्ब्राह्मणं शान्तं पारायणकृते तदा । स्वस्तिवाचनकं कार्यं वेदमन्त्रविधानतः
At that time, a peaceful Brahmin should be chosen for the full recitation; the auspicious invocation should be performed according to the procedure of Vedic mantras.
वेद्यां सिंहासनं स्थाप्य क्षौमवस्त्रसमन्वितम् । तत्र स्थाप्याऽम्बिका देवी चतुर्हस्तायुधान्विता
A lion throne, adorned with fine cloth, should be placed on the altar; upon it, the image of Goddess Ambika, four-armed and bearing weapons, should be established.
रत्नभूषणसंयुक्ता मुक्ताहारविराजिता । दिव्याम्बरधरा सौम्या सर्वलक्षणसंयुता
She should be adorned with jeweled ornaments, radiant with a pearl necklace, clothed in divine garments, gentle in form, and possessing all auspicious marks.
शंखचक्रगदापद्मधरा सिंहे स्थिता शिवा । अष्टादशभुजा वाऽपि प्रतिष्ठाप्या सनातनी
Holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus, established upon a lion, auspicious; or the eternal one with eighteen arms may also be installed.
अर्चाभावे तथा यन्त्रं नवार्णमन्त्रसंयुतम् । स्थापयेत्पीठपूजार्थं कलशं तत्र पार्श्वतः
In the absence of an image, a yantra inscribed with the Navarna mantra should be placed for the purpose of altar worship, and a pot should be set beside it.
पञ्चपल्लवसंयुक्तं वेदमन्त्रैः सुसंस्कृतम् । सुतीर्थजलसम्पूर्णं हेमरत्नैः समन्वितम्
The pot, joined with five kinds of leaves, well-prepared with Vedic mantras, filled with pure water, and adorned with gold and jewels.
पार्श्वे पूजार्थसम्भारान्परिकल्प्य समन्ततः । गीतवादित्रनिर्घोषान्कारयेन्मङ्गलाय वै
All the materials for worship should be arranged on all sides; let there be auspicious singing and the sound of musical instruments.
तिथौ हस्तान्वितायां च नन्दायां पूजनं वरम् । प्रथमे दिवसे राजन् विधिवत्कामदं नृणाम्
On the auspicious Nanda tithi, when it is joined with the appropriate hand, worship is best performed; on the first day, O King, it grants all desires when done according to rule.
नियमं प्रथमं कृत्वा पश्चात्पूजां समाचरेत् । उपवासेन नक्तेन चैकभुक्तेन वा पुनः
First, the vow should be undertaken, and afterwards the worship performed; again, with fasting, night-time eating, or eating once a day.
करिष्यामि व्रतं मातर्नवरात्रमनुत्तमम् । साहाय्यं कुरु मे देवि जगदम्ब ममाखिलम्
O Mother, I shall undertake the supreme vow of Navaratri; O Goddess, O Mother of the world, grant me all assistance.
यथाशक्ति प्रकर्तव्यो नियमो व्रतहेतवे । पश्चात्पूजा प्रकर्तव्या विधिवन्मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
The vow should be observed according to one’s ability for the sake of the vrata; afterwards, worship should be performed properly, preceded by mantra.
चन्दनागुरुकर्पूरैः कुसुमैश्च सुगन्धिभिः । मन्दारकरजाशोकचम्पकैः करवीरकैः
With sandalwood, aguru, camphor, and fragrant flowers—mandara, karaja, ashoka, champaka, and karavira—
मालतीब्रह्मकापुष्पैस्तथा बिल्वदलैः शुभैः । पूजयेज्जगतां धात्रीं धूपैर्दीपैर्विधानतः
With jasmine, brahmakapuṣpa, and also auspicious bilva leaves, one should worship the Mother of the worlds with incense and lamps, according to rule.
फलैर्नानाविधैरर्घ्यं प्रदातव्यं च तत्र वै । नारिकेलैर्मातुलुङ्गैर्दाडिमीकदलीफलैः
Various kinds of fruits should be offered as arghya there—coconuts, citron, pomegranate, and banana fruits.
नारङ्गैः पनसैश्चैव तथा पूर्णफलैः शुभैः । अन्नदानं प्रकर्तव्यं भक्तिपूर्वं नराधिप
With oranges, jackfruit, and also other wholesome, complete fruits; food should be given in charity with devotion, O King.
मांसाशनं ये कुर्वन्ति तैः कार्यं पशुहिंसनम् । महिषाजवराहाणां बलिदानं विशिष्यते
Those who eat meat should perform animal sacrifice; among these, the offering of buffalo, goat, and boar is considered superior.
देव्यग्रे निहता यान्ति पशवः स्वर्गमव्ययम् । न हिंसा पशुजा तत्र निघ्नतां तत्कृतेऽनघ
When animals are slain before the goddess, they attain the imperishable heaven; there is no violence against animals in that act, and those who kill for that purpose are blameless.
अहिंसा याज्ञिकी प्रोक्ता सर्वशास्त्रविनिर्णये । देवतार्थे विसृष्टानां पशूनां स्वर्गतिर्ध्रुवा
Non-violence in sacrificial rites is declared in all scriptural determinations; animals offered for the sake of the deity surely attain heaven.
होमार्थं चैव कर्तव्यं कुण्डं चैव त्रिकोणकम् । स्थण्डिलं वा प्रकर्तव्यं त्रिकोणं मानतः शुभम्
For the purpose of the fire offering, a triangular altar should be made, or a sthaṇḍila (raised platform) fashioned, measuring a triangle, auspicious in form.
त्रिकालं पूजनं नित्यं नानाद्रव्यैर्मनोहरैः । गीतवादित्रनृत्यैश्च कर्तव्यश्च महोत्सवः
Worship should be performed daily at three times, with various delightful substances, accompanied by singing, instrumental music, and dance, and a great festival should be held.