किं चिंतयसि काकुत्स्थ मुनिष्वग्रे वसत्स्वपि । तद्वाक्यं राघवः श्रुत्वा पप्रच्छ मुनिपुंगवान्
'Why do you ponder, O descendant of Kakutstha, even while the sages dwell before you?' Hearing these words, Raghava questioned the foremost of sages.
श्रीरामउवाच- विभीषणः कथमसौ बद्धः शृंखलया नृभिः । मत्स्थापितं शिवं लिगं दृष्ट्वा रामेश्वरं त्वहो
Sri Rama said: 'How has Vibhishana been bound with chains by men, after seeing the Shiva-linga I established, the Rameshvara? Alas!'
द्राविडैः कुटिलैर्दुष्टैरात्मना तद्विचार्यताम् । विचार्य मुनिवर्यास्ते नेशास्तज्ज्ञातुमल्पतः
'By the wicked and crooked Dravidians—consider this yourself. The eminent sages, having considered, were unable to ascertain the matter.'
न जानीम इति प्राहू रामं रामस्तदाब्रवीत् । पुराणं वीक्ष्य विधिना तत्सर्वं ब्रूत सत्तमाः
'We do not know,' they said to Rama. Then Rama spoke: 'Examine the Purana according to rule and tell me all, O noble ones.'
भवदज्ञानहेतुश्च विचार्यस्तदनंतरम् । किं किं पुराणं प्रेक्ष्यं स्याद्वर्जनीयं तथैव किम्
'Afterwards, consider also the cause of your ignorance. Which Purana should be examined, and which should be avoided as well?'
प्रशस्तः कीदृशः श्लोकस्तदन्यः कीदृशो भवेत् । कीदृशेषु च कार्येषु कीदृशः पूजकस्तथा
'What kind of verse is praised, and what other kind exists? In what actions, and what sort of worshipper is suitable?'
पूजा च कीदृशैर्भक्तैः कार्या निर्णयदर्शने । इति रामस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा ते द्विजसत्तमाः
'By what kind of devotees should worship be performed, according to the authoritative decision?' Having heard Rama's words, those best of twice-born replied—
प्रत्यूचुस्तं रघुश्रेष्ठं चिंताव्याकुलमानसम् । न वक्तारो वरं राम वीक्षतां तु पुराणवित्
They answered the best of the Raghus, whose mind was troubled with concern: 'We are not the ones to speak, O Rama; let the knower of the Puranas be consulted.'
तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवः शंभुं पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः । सोपि तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य प्रत्युवाच महामतिः
Hearing this, Raghava humbly questioned Shambhu; and he, having heard those words, replied with great wisdom.
शंभुरुवाच- पुराणजीवी पूजार्हः स्वशाखाध्ययनः शुचिः । मीमांसातत्त्वविज्ञानः श्रोत्रियोऽनृतदूषकः
Shambhu said: 'One who lives by the Purana, is worthy of worship, studies his own branch, is pure, knows the essence of Mimamsa, is learned in the Vedas, and avoids falsehood—'
देवेषु च समस्तेषु समदृष्टिः शिवे रतः । शतरुद्रियजापी च साग्निकश्चातिवाचकः
'Who regards all the gods equally, delights in Shiva, recites the Shatarudriya, maintains the sacred fire, and is a skilled reciter—'
यजुर्वेदी विशेषेण पूजयेत्पुस्तकं सुधीः । श्रीतालपत्रलिखितं देवलिप्यन्वितं शुभम्
'Especially one learned in the Yajurveda should worship the book, auspicious, written on fresh palm leaves, and adorned with divine script.'
बंधाद्यतिप्रपंचं यद्युगपत्प्रणवाक्षरम् । प्रागूर्द्ध्वंरेखयोः प्रांते प्रणवस्याग्रयोजिका
'If, at the beginning or end of the binding or any elaborate section, the syllable Om is written, with a line at the start or end, and the head of Om joined at the top—'
रेखा भवेदेवमेका अकारस्तस्य पार्श्वतः । शिरोभागमुपक्रम्य सकोणाधः प्रलंबिनी
'Let there be a single line thus, with the letter A at its side, beginning at the top and hanging down at an angle below.'
आकारः स हि विज्ञेयः पट्टिकादक्षरेखया । वामे षड्वक्रबिंदूद्वा विकार इति कीर्तितः
'That is to be understood as the letter A, marked with a line from the strip; on the left, with six bends and a dot above, it is called Vikara.'
तस्य वामशिरोरेखा लंबिन्या ई उदाहृतः । सर्वाक्षरे शिरोरेखा अवक्रा प्रणवं विना
'Its left head-line, hanging down, is called I; in every letter, the head-line is slanted, except for Om.'
तस्यां तु लंबरेखान्या तदंते च लवित्रवत् । उकारः स हि विख्यातो लवित्रद्वयतस्तदू
Upon it, there is another line at the end, resembling a spade; that is known as the syllable 'u', situated between two spade-like marks.
एवमन्यानि सर्वाणि अक्षराण्याह भारती । लिप्यानयैव लिखितं पुराणं तु प्रशस्यस्ते
In this way, O Bhāratī, all the other letters are described; the Purāṇa written in this script is praised by you.
ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च मार्तंडं नारदेरितम् । मार्कंडेयमथाग्नेयं कौर्मं वामनमेव च
The Brāhma, Pādma, Vaiṣṇava, Mārtaṇḍa, Nārada, Mārkaṇḍeya, Āgneya, Kaurma, and Vāmana Purāṇas,
गारुडं लैंगमाख्यातं स्कांदं मात्स्यं नृसिंहकम् । तथैव गदितं राम पुराणं कापिलं तथा
The Gāruḍa, Laiṅga, Skānda, Mātsya, Nṛsiṃha, Rāma, and Kāpila Purāṇas are also mentioned in the same way.
वाराहं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं शकुनेषु प्रशस्यते । शैवं भागवतं दौर्गं भविष्योत्तरमेव च
The Vārāha and Brahmavaivarta Purāṇas are praised among the birds; likewise, the Śaiva, Bhāgavata, Daurga, and Bhaviṣyottara Purāṇas.
भविष्यं चोपसंज्ञानि त्वन्यानि च विवर्जयेत् । विमुच्य पुस्तकं रत्नपीठे निक्षिप्य संस्कृतम्
The Bhaviṣya and other supplementary texts should be set aside; having purified the book, place it upon a jeweled seat.
धौतवस्त्रधरः स्नात्वा शुचिरक्रोधनोऽज्वरः । आदावात्मानमभ्यर्च्य कृत्वा संकल्पमेव च
Wearing clean garments, having bathed, pure, free from anger and fever, first worship yourself and make a resolve.
अंकुशं चाक्षसूत्रं च पाशं पुस्तकमेव च । धारयंतीं सितां ध्यायेत्प्रसन्नास्यां सरस्वतीम्
Meditate upon Sarasvatī, white in color, with a serene face, holding a goad, rosary, noose, and book, clad in white.
गोक्षीरसदृशाकारं त्रिनेत्रं वृषवाहनम् । सहासवदनं शांतं शुक्लांबरधरं शिवम्
Meditate on Śiva, whose form resembles cow's milk, three-eyed, riding the bull, with a smiling, peaceful face, and dressed in white garments.
हरिणं चाभयं चोर्द्ध्वबाहुयुग्मं किरीटिनम् । व्याख्यामुद्रा चं दक्षेधो वामहस्ते वरप्रदम्
Meditate on Hari, with a gesture of fearlessness, both arms raised, crowned, showing the gesture of explanation with the right hand, and granting boons with the left.
नानारत्नविभूषाढ्यं गिरिजार्द्धांबुजासनम् । बहुभिर्मुनिमुख्यैस्तु ध्यायमान पदांबुजम्
Adorned with various jewels, seated on half a lotus with Girijā, and worshipped at his lotus feet by many foremost sages.
मूर्तिमद्भिस्तथा वेदैः स्तूयमानं पुराणकैः । अन्यैः समस्तलोकैश्च संसेवितपदांबुजम्
Praised by the Vedas and Purāṇas in embodied form, and served at his lotus feet by all the worlds.
ध्यात्वैवं पूजकः सम्यगादौ पूजां समारभेत् । आपो वा इदमित्येतत्कलशस्याभिमंत्रणम्
Having meditated thus, the worshipper should properly begin the worship; 'This indeed is water'—this is the consecration of the pot.
तज्जलं च गृहीत्वा च पात्रस्थमभिमंत्रयेत् । तत्सद्ब्रह्मेति मंत्रेण प्रशस्य प्रणवेन तु
Taking that water and placing it in a vessel, he should consecrate it with the mantra 'That is true Brahman,' and with the praised praṇava.