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.
नित्यं भूमौ च शयनं कुमारीणां च पूजनम् । वस्त्रालङ्करणैर्दिव्यैर्भोजनैश्च सुधामयैः
Daily, bedding should be placed on the ground, and the worship of young girls carried out, with divine garments and ornaments, and with nectar-like foods.
एकैकां पूजयेन्नित्यमेकवृद्ध्या तथा पुनः । द्विगुणं त्रिगुणं वाऽपि प्रत्येकं नवकं च वा
Each girl should be worshipped daily, first singly, then again with double or triple the offerings, or with nine for each, as desired.
विभवस्यानुसारेण कर्तव्यं पूजनं किल । वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यं राजञ्छक्तिमखे सदा
Worship should be performed according to one's means; deceit regarding wealth should never be practiced, O king, in the ritual of power.
एकवर्षा न कर्तव्या कन्या पूजाविधौ नृप । परमज्ञा तु भोगानां गन्धादीनां च बालिका
A girl of one year should not be worshipped in the ritual, O king; the girl who is most knowledgeable in enjoying fragrances and similar pleasures is to be selected.
कुमारिका तु सा प्रोक्ता द्विवर्षा या भवेदिह । त्रिमूर्तिश्च त्रिवर्षा च कल्याणी चतुरब्दिका
The girl who is two years old is called Kumārikā; three years old is Trimūrti; four years old is Kalyāṇī.
रोहिणी पञ्चवर्षा च षड्वर्षा कालिका स्मृता । चण्डिका सप्तवर्षा स्यादष्टवर्षा च शाम्भवी
Five years old is Rohiṇī; six years old is Kālikā; seven years old is Caṇḍikā; eight years old is Śāmbhavī.
नववर्षा भवेद्दुर्गा सुभद्रा दशवार्षिकी । अत ऊर्ध्वं न कर्तव्या सर्वकार्यविगर्हिता
Nine years old is Durgā; ten years old is Subhadrā; beyond that, worship should not be performed, as it is disapproved in all rites.
एभिश्च नामभिः पूजा कर्तव्या विधिसंयुता । तासां फलानि वक्ष्यामि नवानां पूजने सदा
Worship should be performed with these names, according to the prescribed method; I will now speak of the fruits of worshipping these nine.
कुमारी पूजिता कुर्याद्दुःखदारिद्रयनाशनम् । शत्रुक्षयं धनायुष्यं बलवृद्धिं करोति वै
Worshipping Kumārikā destroys sorrow and poverty, brings the destruction of enemies, wealth, longevity, and increases strength.
त्रिमूर्तिपूजनादायुस्त्रिवर्गस्य फलं भवेत् । धनधान्यागमश्चैव पुत्रपौत्रादिवृद्धयः
By worshipping Trimūrti, one attains longevity and the fruits of the three goals of life, as well as the acquisition of wealth and grain, and growth of sons and grandsons.