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.
शुभास्तत्राष्ट होतारो द्वारपालास्तथाष्ट वै अष्टौ तु जापकाः कार्या ब्राह्मणा वेदपारगाः
There, eight auspicious priests should be appointed, and likewise eight doorkeepers; eight reciters, Brāhmaṇas learned in the Vedas, should also be engaged.
सर्वलक्षणसम्पूर्णो मन्त्रविद्विजितेन्द्रियः कुलशीलसमायुक्तः पुरोधाः स्याद्द्विजोत्तमः
The chief priest should be a foremost Brāhmaṇa, complete in all marks, skilled in mantras, self-controlled, and endowed with noble family and conduct.
प्रतिगर्तेषु कलशी यज्ञोपकरणानि च व्यजनं चामरे शुभ्रे ताम्रपात्रे सुविस्तृते
In each trench, place water vessels and sacrificial implements, and a fan of white yak-tail, all set in a broad copper vessel.
ततस्त्वनेकवर्णाः स्युश् चरवः प्रतिदैवतम् आचार्यः प्रक्षिपेद्भूमाव् अनुमन्त्र्य विचक्षणः
Then, variously colored offering vessels should be prepared for each deity; the teacher, after due consideration, should place them on the ground.
त्र्यरत्निमात्रो यूपः स्यात् क्षारवृक्षविनिर्मितः यजमानप्रमाणो वा संस्थाप्यो भूतिमिच्छता
The sacrificial post should be three cubits high, made from a saline tree, or according to the measure of the sacrificer, to be set up by one desiring prosperity.
हेमालंकारिणः कार्याः पञ्चविंशतिऋत्विजः कुण्डलानि च हैमानि केयूरकटकानि च
There should be twenty-five priests adorned with gold ornaments, with golden earrings, armlets, and bracelets.
तथाङ्गुल्यः पवित्राणि वासांसि विविधानि च पूजयेत्तु समं सर्वान् आचार्यो द्विगुणं पुनः दद्याच्छयनसंयुक्तम् आत्मनश्चापि यत्प्रियम्
Likewise, let them have rings, sacred threads, and various garments; the teacher should honor them all equally, and again give double, along with bedding and whatever else is dear to himself.
सौवर्णकूर्ममकरौ राजतौ मत्स्यदुन्दुभौ ताम्रौ कुलीरमण्डूकाव् आयसः शिशुमारकः एवमासाद्य तत्सर्वम् आदावेव विशां पते
A golden tortoise and makara, a silver fish and drum, a copper crab and frog, and an iron crocodile—having obtained all these at the beginning, O lord of the people.
शुक्लमाल्याम्बरधरः शुक्लगन्धानुलेपनः सर्वौषध्युदकैस्तत्र स्नापितो वेदपारगैः
Clad in white garlands and garments, anointed with white fragrant unguents, and bathed there with all medicinal waters by those learned in the Vedas.
यजमानः सपत्नीकः पुत्रपौत्रसमन्वितः पश्चिमं द्वारमासाद्य प्रविशेद्यागमण्डपम्
The sacrificer, with his wife, sons, and grandsons, should approach the western door and enter the sacrificial pavilion.