शङ्कराय मुखे प्रोक्तं सर्वज्ञाय हृदि क्षिपेत्
For Śaṅkara, utter it at the mouth; for the omniscient one, place it in the heart.
उच्चार्य पादयोः क्षिप्त्वा भस्म शुद्ध्वमतः परम्
Having pronounced it and placed the ashes upon the feet, thereafter one becomes purified.
प्रक्षाल्य हस्तावाचम्य दर्भपाणिः समाहितः
After washing the hands and rinsing the mouth, holding darbha grass, one should be attentive.
तदभावे तु दूर्वाः स्युस्तदभावे तु राजतम्
If that is unavailable, use dūrvā grass; if that too is lacking, use silver.
देववेदीमथो वापि कल्पितं स्थण्डिलं तु वा
Either the divine altar or a prepared sthaṇḍila may be used.
चातुर्वर्णकरं गैश्च श्वेतेनैकेन वा पुनः
A cāturvarṇa-kara may be made with cows, or with a single white one again.
उत्पलादिगदाशङ्खत्रिशूलडमरूंस्तथा
Lotus and other objects, mace, conch, trident, and drum likewise,
सर्वकामफलं वृक्षं कुलकं कोलकं तथा
A tree yielding all desired fruits, a kulaka, and a kolaka as well,
कोणे द्वादशकान्दोलापादुकाव्यजनानि च
In the corners, twelve swings, sandals, and fans also,
चूर्णैविरचयेद्वेद्यां धीमान्देवालये ऽपि वा
Let the wise arrange these on the altar with powders, or even in a temple.
स्वहस्तरचितं मुख्यं क्रीतं चैव तु मध्यमम्
That which is made by one's own hand is foremost; that which is purchased is of middling value.
अर्हेषु यत्त्वनर्हेषु बलात्कारात्तु निष्फलम्
What is offered to the worthy yields fruit; but to the unworthy, by force, it is fruitless.
तन्दुलैर्वीहिमात्रोत्थैः कणैश्चैव यथाक्रमम्
With grains of rice, barley, and other seeds, as is appropriate in order,
पद्मादिस्थापनैरेव तत्सम्यग्यागमाचरेत्
And by placing lotuses and other such items, one should properly perform the ritual as prescribed.
आसनं च प्रवक्ष्यामि यथादृष्टं यथा श्रुतम्
Now I shall describe the seat, as I have seen and heard.
कांबलं काञ्चनं चैव राजतं ताम्रमेव च
It may be of wool, gold, silver, or copper,
वैयाघ्रं रौरवं चैव हारिण मार्गमेव च
Or of tiger skin, ruru deer skin, or black antelope skin as well.
यथासंभवमेतेषु ह्यासनं परिकल्पयेत्
One should prepare the seat from these, as available.
दर्भभस्मसमासीनः प्राणानायम्य वाग्यन्तः
Seated on darbha grass or ashes, controlling the breath and restraining speech,
शिखान्ते द्वादशाङ्गुल्ये स्थितं सूक्ष्मतनुं शिवम्
At the tip of the topknot, within twelve finger-breadths, one should contemplate the subtle and pure Shiva,
सर्वाभरणसंयुक्तमिमादिगुणान्वितम्
Adorned with all ornaments and endowed with qualities like beauty and so on.
तया दीप्त्या शरीरस्थं पापं नाशमुपागतम्
By that radiance, the sin residing in the body is destroyed.
तद्द्वादशदलावृत्तमष्ट पञ्च त्रिरेव वा
That (Shiva) is surrounded by twelve petals, or by eight, five, or three.
गुहास्थितं महेशानं र्लिङ्गेशं चिन्तयेत्था
One should meditate thus on the great Lord, the Lord of the linga, who dwells in the cave (of the heart).
सुगन्धपुष्पं निक्षिप्य प्राणवेनाभिमन्त्रितम्
Placing a fragrant flower, consecrated with the life-breath,
प्राणायामपदे ध्यानं शिवेत्योङ्कारमन्त्रितम्
At the stage of breath-control, one should meditate, uttering the mantra 'Shiva' together with Om.
तानि स्थाप्य समीपे तु ततः संकल्प माचरेत्
Placing those (items) nearby, then one should make a resolve (sankalpa).
इति संकल्पयित्वा तु तत आवाहनादिकम्
Having thus made the resolve, then one should proceed with the invocation and related rites.
नमस्तेत्यादिमन्त्रेण शतरुद्रविधानतः
With the mantra beginning with 'namas' and according to the procedure of the Shatarudriya,
तया यः स्नापयेन्मांस जपचुद्रमुखांश्च चा
By means of that, one should bathe (the deity) with meat, rice, and other offerings as prescribed.