नमो नमः कामसुखप्रदाय कटिः शशाङ्कस्य सदार्चनीया तथोदरं चाप्यमृतोदराय नाभिः शशाङ्काय नमो ऽभिपूज्या
Salutations again and again to the giver of desire and happiness; the waist of Shashanka is always to be worshipped, and likewise the belly as Amritodara; the navel of Shashanka is to be especially honored.
नमो ऽस्तु चन्द्राय मुखं च पूज्यं दन्ता द्विजानामधिपाय पूज्याः हास्यं नमश्चन्द्रमसे ऽभिपूज्यम् ओष्ठौ कुमुद्वन्तवनप्रियाय
Salutations to Chandra; the face is to be worshipped, the teeth as lords of the twice-born are to be honored, the smile is to be especially revered as Chandra, and the lips as beloved of the night-lotuses.
नासा च नाथाय वनौषधीनाम् आनन्दभूताय पुनर्भ्रुवौ च नेत्रद्वयं पद्मनिभं तथेन्दोर् इन्दीवरश्यामकराय शौरेः
The nose is to be worshipped as lord of forest herbs, the brows and the two lotus-like eyes as Indu, and the hands of Shouri as dark as blue lotuses.
नमः समस्ताध्वरवन्दिताय कर्णद्वयं दैत्यनिषूदनाय ललाटमिन्दोरुदधिप्रियाय केशाः सुषुम्नाधिपतेः प्रपूज्याः
Salutations to him who is honored in all sacrifices; the two ears are to be worshipped as destroyers of demons, the forehead of Indu as beloved of the ocean, and the hair as worthy of worship for the lord of Sushumna.
शिरः शशाङ्काय नमो मुरारेर् विश्वेश्वरायेति नमः किरीटिने पद्मप्रिये रोहिणि नाम लक्ष्मीः सौभाग्यसौख्यामृतचारुकाये
Salutations to the moon-headed one, to Murāri, to the Lord of all; salutations to the crowned one, beloved of the lotus, Rohiṇī, named Lakṣmī, whose beautiful form is the nectar of fortune and happiness.
देवीं च संपूज्य सुगन्धपुष्पैर् नैवेद्यधूपादिभिरिन्दुपत्नीम् सुप्त्वाथ भूमौ पुनरुत्थितेन स्नात्वा च विप्राय हविष्ययुक्तः
Having worshipped the goddess with fragrant flowers, offerings, incense, and so forth, to the moon’s consort, then sleeping upon the ground, upon rising again, one should bathe and, with sacrificial food, offer it to a brāhmaṇa.
देयः प्रभाते सहिरण्यवारिकुम्भो नमः पापविनाशनाय संप्राश्य गोमूत्रममांसमन्नम् अक्षारमष्टावथ विंशतिं च ग्रासान्पयःसर्पिर्युतानुपोष्य भुक्त्वेतिहासं शृणुयान्मुहूर्तम्
In the morning, one should give, along with a golden water-pot, salutations to the destroyer of sin; having tasted cow’s urine, food without meat or salt, eight or twenty morsels mixed with milk and ghee, having fasted, after eating, one should listen to a history for a moment.
कदम्बनीलोत्पलकेतकानि जाती सरोजं शतपत्त्रिका च अम्लानकुब्जान्यथ सिन्दुवारं पुष्पं पुनर्नारद मल्लिकायाः शुभ्रं च विष्णोः करवीरपुष्पं श्रीचम्पकं चन्द्रमसः प्रदेयम्
Kadamba, blue lotus, ketaka, jasmine, water-lily, hundred-petaled lotus, amlāna, kubjā, sinduvāra flowers, and again, O Nārada, white mallikā, karavīra flowers for Viṣṇu, campaka for Śrī, and moonflowers should be offered.
श्रावणादिषु मासेषु क्रमादेतानि सर्वदा यस्मिन्मासे व्रतादिः स्यात् तत्पुष्पैरर्चयेद्धरिम्
In the months beginning with Śrāvaṇa, these flowers should always be offered in order; in whichever month the vow is observed, one should worship Hari with those flowers.
एवं संवत्सरं यावद् उपास्य विधिवन्नरः व्रतान्ते शयनं दद्याद् दर्पणोपस्करान्वितम्
Thus, for a full year, a person should worship according to the prescribed method; at the end of the vow, one should give a bed furnished with a mirror and other items.
रोहिणीचन्द्रमिथुनं कारयित्वाथ काञ्चनम् चन्द्रः षडङ्गुलः कार्यो रोहिणी चतुरङ्गुला
Having made an image of Rohiṇī and the moon in gold, the moon should be six fingers in size, Rohiṇī four fingers.
मुक्ताफलाष्टकयुतं सितनेत्रपटावृतम् क्षीरकुम्भोपरि पुनः कांस्यपात्राक्षतान्वितम् दद्यान्मन्त्रेण पूर्वाह्णे शालीक्षुफलसंयुतम्
Adorned with eight pearls, covered with a white cloth for the eyes, placed upon a pot of milk, again with a bronze vessel and rice grains, one should give it in the morning with a mantra, accompanied by rice and sugarcane fruit.
श्वेतामथ सुवर्णास्यां खुरै रौप्यैः समन्विताम् सवस्त्रभाजनां धेनुं तथा शङ्खं च शोभनम्
A white cow with a golden face, fitted with silver hooves, with cloth and vessel, and likewise a beautiful conch should be given.
भूषणैर्द्विजदाम्पत्यम् अलंकृत्य गुणान्वितम् चन्द्रो ऽयं द्विजरूपेण सभार्य इति कल्पयेत्
Having adorned a brāhmaṇa couple with ornaments and virtues, one should designate them as the moon with his wife.
यथा न रोहिणी कृष्ण शय्यां संत्यज्य गच्छति सोमरूपस्य ते तद्वन् ममाभेदो ऽस्तु भूतिभिः
Just as Rohiṇī never leaves the bed of Kṛṣṇa in the form of the moon, so may my union with prosperity be unbroken.
यथा त्वमेव सर्वेषां परमानन्दमुक्तिदः भुक्तिर्मुक्तिस्तथा भक्तिस् त्वयि चन्द्रास्तु मे सदा
Just as you alone grant supreme bliss and liberation to all, may enjoyment, liberation, and devotion to you, O moon, always be mine.
इति संसारभीतस्य मुक्तिकामस्य चानघ रूपारोग्यायुषामेतद् विधायकमनुत्तमम्
Thus, for one who fears worldly existence and desires liberation, O sinless one, this is the supreme rite for beauty, health, and longevity.
इदमेव पितॄणां च सर्वदा वल्लभं मुने त्रैलोक्याधिपतिर्भूत्वा सप्तकल्पशतत्रयम् चन्द्रलोकमवाप्नोति विद्युद्भूत्वा तु मुच्यते
This alone is always dear to the ancestors, O sage; having become lord of the three worlds for seven hundred cycles, one attains the lunar realm and, becoming like lightning, is freed.
नारी वा रोहिणी चन्द्रशयनं या समाचरेत् सापि तत्फलमाप्नोति पुनरावृत्तिदुर्लभम्
A woman, or Rohiṇī, who performs the moon-bed rite also attains its fruit, and rebirth becomes difficult for her.
इति पठति शृणोति वा य इत्थं मधुमथनार्चनम् इन्दुकीर्तनेन मतिमपि च ददाति सो ऽपि शौरेर् भवनगतः परिपूज्यते ऽमरौघैः
Whoever recites or hears thus the worship of Madhumathana with praise of the moon, and offers even the mind, is honored by hosts of immortals in the abode of Śauri.
जलाशयगतं विष्णुम् उवाच रविनन्दनः तडागारामकूपानां वापीषु नलिनीषु च
Ravi’s descendant spoke to Viṣṇu, who dwells in water: In ponds, gardens, wells, reservoirs, and lotus pools—
विधिं पृच्छामि देवेशे देवतायतनेषु च के तत्र चर्त्विजो नाथ वेदी वा कीदृशी भवेत्
I ask about the procedure, O Lord of gods, and in temples of the gods: Who are the officiating priests there, O master, and what kind of altar should there be?
दक्षिणावलयः कालः स्थानमाचार्य एव च द्रव्याणि कानि शस्तानि सर्वमाचक्ष्व तत्त्वतः
Tell me in detail, what is the proper time, direction, place, the teacher, and which materials are best for this—explain everything truly.
शृणु राजन्महाबाहो तडागादिषु यो विधिः पुराणेष्वितिहासो ऽयं पठ्यते वेदवादिभिः
Hear, O king of mighty arms, the procedure regarding tanks and the like, as related in the Purāṇas—this is the tradition recited by those learned in the Vedas.
प्राप्य पक्षं शुभं शुक्लम् अतीते चोत्तरायणे पुण्ये ऽह्नि विप्रकथिते कृत्वा ब्राह्मणवाचनम्
Having obtained an auspicious bright fortnight, after the sun has entered the northern course, on a holy day declared by the Brāhmaṇas, one should perform the rite.
प्रागुदक्प्रवणे देशे तडागस्य समीपतः चतुर्हस्तां शुभां वेदीं चतुरस्रां चतुर्मुखाम्
In a land sloping to the east or north, near the tank, one should make a pure altar, four cubits in size, square, and with four sides.
तथा षोडशहस्तः स्यान् मण्डपश्च चतुर्मुखः वेद्याश्च परितो गर्ता रत्निमात्रास्त्रिमेखलाः
Likewise, the pavilion should be sixteen cubits, square, and four-sided; around the altar, three trenches, each a cubit wide, should be made.
नव सप्ताथ वा पञ्च नातिरिक्ता नृपात्मज वितस्तिमात्रा योनिः स्यात् षट्सप्ताङ्गुलिविस्तृता
Let there be nine, seven, or five—no more, O prince—each trench a span in width, and the yoni (pit) should be six or seven fingers broad.
गर्ताश्च तत्र सप्त स्युस् त्रिपर्वोच्छ्रितमेखलाः सर्वतस्तु सवर्णाः स्युः पताकाध्वजसंयुताः
There, let there be seven trenches, each with three raised embankments, all of the same color everywhere, adorned with banners and flags.
अश्वत्थोदुम्बरप्लक्षवटशाखाकृतानि तु मण्डपस्य प्रतिदिशं द्वाराण्येतानि कारयेत्
The doors of the pavilion should be made in each direction, fashioned from branches of the aśvattha, udumbara, plakṣa, and vaṭa trees.