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.
एकादश तथा वारमथैकादशधान्वितम्
Either eleven times, or with something possessing the number eleven.
शैवयाविद्यया स्नानं केवलं प्रणवेन वा
Bathing is to be done with the Shaiva method, or simply with the syllable Om.
कांस्येन मुक्ताशुक्त्या च पुष्पादिकेसरेण वा
With bronze, or with a pearl oyster shell, or with the filament of a flower.
शृङ्गस्य च विधिं वक्ष्ये स्नानयोग्यं यथा भवेत्
Now I shall describe the procedure for the horn, so that it may be suitable for bathing.
सुग्रिग्धं लघु कृत्वाथ नाङ्गं छिन्द्यात्कथञ्चन
It should be well cleaned and made light, and under no circumstances should any part be cut.
कृशानुयुक्तं स्नानं तु देवाय परिकल्पयेत्
The horn fitted with a slender tube is to be prepared for bathing the deity.
द्वारे निषिद्धलोहार्द्धसंधिद्वारासमन्विते
It should not have a door, nor be joined with prohibited metals, nor have a joint at the opening.
फलस्थाने तु चषकं दण्डेन समरन्ध्रकम्
At the fruit-end, a small cup with a hole made by a stick should be placed.
पातयेदथ चान्येन वामेनैव करेण वा
Then, pouring should be done with another, or with the left hand.
एवं संस्नाप्य देवेशं पञ्चगव्यैस्तथैव च
In this way, bathing the Lord of the gods with the five products of the cow as well.