कुर्यात्प्राणप्रतिष्ठां तु संभारं प्रोक्ष्य मंत्रतः । कालज्ञानं ततः कृत्वा न्यासं कुर्याद्यथाविधि
He should establish the life-force, sprinkle the materials with mantras, then, knowing the proper time, perform the nyasa ritual as prescribed.
शुभे ताम्रमये पात्रे चंदनेन सितेन च । षट्कोणं विलिखेद्यंत्रं चाष्टकोणं ततो बहिः
In a good copper vessel, with white sandalwood, he should draw a six-pointed diagram, and then an eight-pointed one outside it.
नवाक्षरस्य मंत्रस्य बीजानि विलिखेत्ततः । कृत्वा यंत्रप्रतिष्ठां च वेदोक्तां संविधाय च
Then he should inscribe the seed syllables of the nine-letter mantra, and after establishing the diagram as taught in the Vedas, proceed accordingly.
अर्चां वा धातवीं कुर्यात्पूजामंत्रैः शिवोदितैः । पूजनं पृथिवीपाल भगवत्याः प्रयत्नतः
He may make an image of metal and worship it with the mantras revealed by Shiva; O protector of the earth, he should worship the goddess with care.
कृत्वा वा विधिवत्पूजामागमोक्तां समाहितः । जपेन्नवाक्षरं मंत्रं सततं ध्यानपूर्वकम्
Or, having performed the worship properly as prescribed in the scriptures, with concentration, he should always recite the nine-letter mantra, preceded by meditation.
होमं दशांशतः कुर्याद्दशांशेन च तर्पणम् । भोजनं ब्राह्मणानां च तद्दशांशेन कारयेत्
He should perform the fire offering with one-tenth of the recitations, and with one-tenth of that, the offering of water; and with one-tenth of that, arrange food for the Brahmins.
चरित्रत्रयपाठं च नित्यं कुर्याद्विसर्जयेत् । नवरात्रव्रतं चैव विधेयं विधिपूर्वकम्
One should daily recite the three Charitras and then conclude; and the Navaratri vow should also be observed according to prescribed rules.
आश्विने च तथा चैत्रे शुक्ले पक्षे नराधिप । नवरात्रो(त्रा)पवासो वै कर्तव्यः शुभमिच्छता
O king, in the bright fortnight of Ashvina and likewise of Chaitra, one desiring auspiciousness should undertake the Navaratri observance with a period of retreat.
होमः सुविपुल: कार्यो जप्यमंत्रैः सुपायसैः । शर्कराघृतमिश्रैश्च मधुयुक्तैः सुसंस्कृतैः
A grand homa should be performed with well-prepared mantras, using offerings mixed with sugar, ghee, and honey.
छागमांसेन वा कार्यों बिल्वपत्रैस्तथा शुभैः । हयारिकुसुमै रक्तैस्तिलैर्वा शर्करायुतैः
Alternatively, the offering may be made with goat meat, or with auspicious bilva leaves, or with red flowers of the hibiscus, or with sesame seeds mixed with sugar.
अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां नवम्यां च विशेषतः । कर्तव्यं पूजनं देव्या ब्राह्मणानां च भोजनम्
Especially on the eighth, fourteenth, and ninth days, worship of the Goddess and feeding of Brahmins should be performed.
निर्धनो धनमाप्नोति रोगी रोगात्प्रमुच्यते । अपुत्रो लभते पुत्राञ्छुभांश्च वशवर्तिनः
The poor obtain wealth, the sick are freed from illness, the childless gain sons who are auspicious and obedient.
राज्यभ्रष्टो नृपो राज्यं प्राप्नोति सार्वभौमिकम् । शत्रुभिः पीडितो हंति रिपुं मायाप्रसादतः
A king deprived of his kingdom regains universal sovereignty; one afflicted by enemies destroys his foes by the grace of the Goddess.
विद्यार्थी पूजनं यस्तु करोति नियतेंद्रियः । अनवद्यां शुभां विद्यां विंदते नात्र संशयः
A student who worships with controlled senses surely attains flawless and auspicious knowledge—there is no doubt of this.
ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वा भक्तिसंयुतः । पूजयेज्जगतां धात्रीं स सर्वसुखभाग्भवेत्
A Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, or Shudra, endowed with devotion, who worships the Mother of the worlds, becomes the recipient of all happiness.
नवरात्रव्रतं कुर्यान्नरनारीगणश्च यः । वांछितं फलमाप्नोति सर्वदा भक्तितत्परः
Whoever, whether man or woman, performs the Navaratri vow, always devoted, attains the desired fruit.
आश्विने शुक्लपक्षे तु नवरात्रव्रतं शुभम् । करोति भावसंयुक्तः सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात्
Whoever, with sincere intent, observes the auspicious Navaratri vow in the bright fortnight of Ashvina, attains all desires.
विधिवन्मंडलं कृत्वा पूजास्थानं प्रकल्पयेत् । कलशं स्थापयेत्तत्र वेदमंत्रविधानतः
One should properly prepare a mandala and arrange the place of worship; there, establish a pot according to Vedic mantras and procedures.
यंत्रं सुरुचिरं कृत्वा स्थापयेत्कलशोपरि । वापयित्वा यवांश्चारून्पार्श्वतः परिवर्तितान्
Having made a beautiful yantra, it should be placed atop the pot; barley grains and cooked offerings should be scattered around its sides.
कृत्वोपरि वितानं च पुष्पमालासमावृतम् । धूपदीपसुसंयुक्तं कर्तव्यं चण्डिकागृहम्
Above, a canopy should be made, adorned with garlands of flowers; the house of Chandika should be prepared, complete with incense and lamps.
त्रिकालं तत्र कर्तव्या पूजा शक्त्यनुसारतः । वित्तशाठ्यं न कर्तव्यं चण्डिकायाश्च पूजने
There, worship should be performed three times daily according to one's capacity; deceit regarding wealth should not be practiced in the worship of Chandika.
धूपैर्दीपैः सुनैवेद्यैः फलपुष्पैरनेकशः । गीतवाद्यैः स्तोत्रपाठैर्वेदपारायणैस्तथा
With incense, lamps, excellent offerings, many fruits and flowers, with singing, instrumental music, recitation of hymns, and Vedic readings.
उत्सवस्तत्र कर्तव्यो नानावादित्रसंयुतैः । कन्यकानां पूजनं च विधेयं विधिपूर्वकम्
A festival should be held there, accompanied by various musical instruments; and the worship of young girls should be performed according to prescribed rules.
चन्दनैर्भूषणैर्वस्त्रैर्भक्ष्यैश्च विविधैस्तथा । सुगन्धतैलमाल्यैश्च मनसो रुचिकारकैः
With sandalwood, ornaments, garments, and various foods, as well as fragrant oils and garlands that delight the mind.
एवं सम्पूजनं कृत्वा होमं मन्त्रविधानतः । अष्टम्यां वा नवम्यां वा कारयेद्विधिपूर्वकम्
After performing such worship and the fire offering according to the prescribed mantras, one should carry it out with proper procedure either on the eighth or ninth day.
ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्पश्चात्पारणं दशमीदिने । कर्तव्यं शक्तितो दानं देयं भक्तिपरैर्नृपैः
Afterwards, on the tenth day, one should feed Brahmins and complete the observance; according to one's ability, kings devoted to devotion should give gifts.
एवं यः कुरुते भक्त्या नवरात्रव्रतं नरः । नारी वा सधवा भक्त्या विधवा वा पतिव्रता
Whoever, whether man or woman—be she married with her husband or a devoted widow—performs the Navaratri vow with devotion in this way,
इह लोके सुखं भोगान्प्राप्नोति मनसेप्सितान् । देहान्ते परमं स्थानं प्राप्नोति व्रततत्परः
Such a person, intent on the vow, attains happiness and the enjoyments desired by the mind in this world, and at the end of the body attains the highest state.
जन्मान्तरेऽम्बिकाभक्तिर्भवत्यव्यभिचारिणी। जन्मोत्तमकुले प्राप्य सदाचारो भवेद्धि सः
In a future birth, unwavering devotion to Ambika arises; being born in an excellent family, he indeed becomes of good conduct.
नवरात्रव्रतं प्रोक्तं व्रतानामुत्तमं व्रतम् । आराधनं शिवायास्तु सर्वसौख्यकरं परम्
The Navaratri vow has thus been described, the supreme among vows; it is the worship of Shiva's consort and brings all happiness.