पूगखंडानथो घृष्टान्पत्राणि क्षालितानि च । अपृष्ठाग्राणि सुश्वेतच्छदयावृतिकानि च
Then, pieces of areca nut, well-rubbed leaves, washed and spotless, with unbroken tips, and covered with pure white wrappers, were offered.
घनसारकचूर्णं च न्यस्तपत्रत्रयं शुभम् । सौवर्णपात्रविन्यस्तमिदं तांबूलमीश्वरे
Three auspicious leaves, sprinkled with powdered camphor, were placed in a golden vessel—this betel offering was presented to the Lord.
अथ प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा नमस्काराननंतरम् । अष्टयोषास्ततः प्राप्तास्तंत्रीवेण्वादिधारिकाः
Then, after circumambulating and offering salutations, eight women arrived, bearing stringed instruments and flutes.
विचित्रवाद्यवादिन्यः संप्राप्ता मुनिसन्निधिम् । क्षुद्रतालयुगं गृह्य स्वयं गातुं प्रचक्रमे
These women, skilled in playing various instruments, came into the sage's presence, took up the rhythm and tempo, and began to sing themselves.
गौतमे गातुमुद्युक्ते तानं कुर्युरथांगनाः । मंदं मंदं च वाद्यानि वादयंति तथापराः
As Gautama prepared to sing, the women set the pitch, and others played the instruments softly and gently.
मधुरं गायति मुनौ स्वरामूर्तिभृतस्तथा । प्रानृत्यंत महेशाग्रे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
In the sage's presence, they sang sweetly, their voices embodying melody; and as they danced before the great Lord, it seemed truly marvelous.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो भगवान्नारदो मुनिः । तमागतं गौतमोपि संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च
At that moment, the venerable sage Nārada arrived; Gautama welcomed him with honor and bowed before him.
आहचैनंकृतार्थोस्मिनचकश्चिन्मयासमः । तवागमनकृत्यं किं कुत आगमनं तथा
He said to him, 'I have accomplished my purpose here; there is no one equal to me. What is the reason for your coming, and from where have you come?'
श्रीनारद उवाच- पातालादागतोस्मीह भुक्त्वा वै बाणमंदिरे । आयास्यंति महात्मानो बाणशुक्रादयो गृहम्
Śrī Nārada said: 'I have come here from the netherworld, having eaten at Bāṇa's palace. Soon, the great souls Bāṇa, Śukra, and others will come to the house.'
अथ क्षणादभ्यगाच्च बाणः परपुरंजयः । विंशत्यक्षौहिणीयुक्तो गजमारुह्य सोसुरः
Then, in a moment, Bāṇa, conqueror of enemy cities, arrived, accompanied by twenty armies, riding an elephant, along with the Asuras.
अपरं हि गजं शुक्रः प्रह्लादो रथमुत्तमम् । वृषपर्वा रथवरं बलिस्तुरगमुत्तमम्
Śukra mounted another elephant, Prahlāda rode an excellent chariot, Vṛṣaparvan took a splendid chariot, and Bali rode the best horse.
आगतानथ तान्सर्वानाज्ञाय स तु गौतमः । सशिष्यो निर्जगामाथ ह्यादायार्घ्यादिकं त्वरा
Then Gautama, seeing that all had arrived, went out with his disciples, quickly bringing water and other offerings.
गौतमं चापि ते वीक्ष्यावरुह्य च गजादिकात् । नमश्चक्रुरथो दैत्यास्तं नमस्कृत्य भार्गवम्
Seeing Gautama, they descended from their elephants and other mounts; the Daityas offered their salutations, and after bowing to Bhārgava, too.
आलिंग्य राक्षसान्सर्वान्पूजयित्वा यथाविधि । सेनायाः सन्निवेशं च चकार मुनिपुंगवः
Embracing all the Rākṣasas and honoring them according to custom, the eminent sage arranged the army's encampment.
पादौ प्रक्षाल्य शुक्रस्य जलं मूर्ध्नि धृतं तथा । विचित्रफलसंयुक्तं दत्तवानर्हणं मुनिः
After washing Śukra's feet and placing water upon his head, the sage gave him a respectful offering adorned with various fruits.
वापीतडागसरसी स्नानपूर्वकृत क्रियाः । संगमे वर्तमाने तु गौतमस्याश्रमे शुभे
Having performed the prescribed rites after bathing in ponds, tanks, and lakes, they gathered at the auspicious hermitage of Gautama.
तद्गेहं तु प्रविश्याथ राक्षसास्सपुरोहिताः । देवपूजाप्रपत्तिं च चक्रुः सर्वे द्विजालये
Then, entering that house, the Rākṣasas with their priests all engaged in worship of the gods within the abode of the twice-born.
सद्यः प्रकल्पितायां च वेद्यां शुक्रोऽयजच्छिवम् । तस्यैव वामभागे तु प्रह्लादोयजदच्युतम्
On the altar prepared at once, Śukra offered sacrifice to Śiva; and to the left of it, Prahlāda sacrificed to Acyuta.
सोमं च बलिरप्येवमन्ये चासुरपुंगवाः । अथ बाणोऽयजद्देवमेकमेव त्रियंबकम्
Bali offered to Soma, and likewise other leaders of the Asuras; then Bāṇa sacrificed to the single god Triambaka.
शुक्रोपि भगवन्तन्तमुमानाथमपूजयत् । गौतमोप्यथ मध्याह्ने पूजयामास शंकरम्
Śukra also worshipped the blessed Lord Umānātha; and Gautama, at midday, worshipped Śaṃkara.
सर्वे शुक्लांबरधरा भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः । सितेन भस्मना कृत्वा सर्वस्थाने त्रिपुंड्रकम्
All wore white garments, their bodies smeared with ash; in every place, they marked themselves with three lines of white ash.
नत्वा तु भार्गवं सर्वे भूतशुद्धिं प्रचक्रमुः । हृत्पद्ममध्ये सुषिरं तत्रैव भूतपंचकम्
After bowing to Bhārgava, all performed purification of the elements; in the lotus of the heart, there is a cavity containing the five elements.
तेषां मध्ये महाकाशमाकाशे निर्मलानलम् । तन्मध्ये च महेशानं ध्यायेद्दीप्तिमयं शुभम्
Among them, there is the great ether, and within the ether, pure fire; in its midst, one should meditate on Maheśāna, radiant and auspicious.
अज्ञानसंयुतं भूतं शमलं सर्वसंगतम् । तद्देहमाकाशदीपे प्रदहेज्ज्ञानवह्निना
The element, joined with ignorance and impurity, associated with all, one should burn that body in the lamp of ether with the fire of knowledge.
आकाशस्यावृतं चाहं दग्ध्वाऽऽकाशमथो दहेत् । दग्ध्वाकाशमयो वायुमग्निभूतं तदा दहेत्
Having burned what is enveloped by ether, one should then burn the ether; after burning the ether, one should burn the air composed of ether and fire.
अब्भूतं च ततो दग्ध्वा पृथिवीभूतमेव च । तदाश्रितान्गुणान्दग्ध्वा ततो देहं प्रदाहयेत्
Then, after burning the element of water and likewise the element of earth, having burned the qualities attached to them, one should then burn the body.
एवं दहित्वा भूतानि देही तज्ज्ञानवह्निना । शिखामध्यस्थितं विष्णुमानंदरसनिर्भरम्
Thus, having burned the elements with the fire of knowledge, the embodied soul, filled with the bliss of seeing Viṣṇu situated in the midst of the flame.
निष्पन्नचंद्रकिरणसंकाशकिरणं शिवम् । शिवांगोत्पन्नकिरणैरमृतद्रवसंयुतैः
Śiva, whose rays resemble moonbeams, appears; with rays arising from Śiva's body, mingled with the nectar-fluid.
सुशीतला ततो ज्वाला प्रशांता चन्द्ररश्मिवत् । प्रसारितसुधारुग्भिः सांद्रीभूतश्च संप्लवः
Then the flame becomes very cool, tranquil like moonlight; with streams of nectar flowing forth, the flood becomes dense.
क्रमेण प्लावितं भूतग्रामं संचिंतयेत्परम्
Gradually, one should contemplate the group of elements being flooded, and then the supreme.