स्नानालंकरणं श्रेष्ठमर्चायामेव भूपते । स्थंडिलेष्वपि विन्यासो वह्नावाज्यहुतं हविः
Bathing and ornamentation are best for the image, O king; for flat surfaces, arrangement is proper, and in fire, the offering is clarified butter.
सूर्ये चाभ्यर्हणं श्रेष्ठं स्थंडिले सलिलादिभिः । श्रद्धयोपहृतं श्रेष्ठं हरौ भक्तेन वार्यपि
For the sun, the best offering is arghya; on a flat surface, water and similar things. What is offered to Hari by a devotee with faith, even if only water, is best.
गंधो धूपः सुमनसो दीपोऽन्नाद्यं च किं पुनः । शुचिः संभृतसंभारः प्राग्दर्भैः कल्पितासनः
What need to mention fragrance, incense, flowers, lamp, and food? One who is pure, who has gathered the necessary items, and who has prepared a seat with darbha grass facing east—
आसीनः प्रागुदग्वक्त्रो ह्यर्चायामथ सम्मुखः । कृतन्यासः कृतन्यासां हर्यर्चां पाणिना स्पृशेत्
Seated facing east or north, and facing the image, having performed nyāsa, one who has completed the gestures should touch Hari’s image with the hand.
कलशं प्रोक्षणीयं च यथावदुपसाधयेत् । तदद्भिर्देवयजनं द्रव्याण्यात्मानमेव च
One should properly prepare the water vessel and the sprinkling vessel; with that water, purify the place of worship, the materials, and oneself.
प्रोक्ष्य पात्राणि त्रीण्यद्भिस्तैस्तैर्द्रव्यैस्तु सादयेत् । पाद्यार्घ्याचमनीयार्थं त्रीणि पात्राणि दापयेत्
Having sprinkled the three vessels with water, one should purify them with the appropriate substances; three vessels should be provided for the purposes of washing the feet, offering arghya, and sipping.
हृतशीर्ष्णा च शिखया गायत्र्या चाभिमंत्रयेत् । पिंडे वाय्वग्निसंसिद्धे हृत्पद्मस्थां परां विभोः
With the topknot placed on the crown and with the Gāyatrī, one should consecrate; in the lump (of earth) perfected by air and fire, meditate on the supreme power of the Lord abiding in the heart-lotus.
अण्वीं जीवकलां ध्यायेन्नादांते सिद्धिभाविताम् । तयात्मभूतया पिंडे व्याप्ते संपूज्य तन्मयः
One should meditate on the subtle vital spark at the end of sound, endowed with perfection; with that, pervading the lump as one’s own self, worship, becoming identified with it.
आवाह्यार्चादिषु स्थाप्य न्यस्तां गां तां प्रपूजयेत् । पाद्यार्घ्यस्नानार्हणादीनुपचारान्प्रकल्पयेत्
Having invoked and established that earth in the acts of worship, one should honor it; provide the offerings such as washing the feet, arghya, bathing, and arghya.
धर्मादिभिश्च नवभिः कल्पयित्वासनं हरेः । पद्ममष्टदलं तत्र कर्णिकाकेसरोज्ज्वलम्
Having prepared a seat for Hari with the nine virtues beginning with dharma, place there an eight-petaled lotus, its pericarp and filaments shining.
उभाभ्यां वेदतंत्राभ्यां हरेरुभयसिद्धये । सुदर्शनं पांचजन्यं गदासीषु धनुर्हलम्
By both the Veda and the Tantra, for the accomplishment of both aspects of Hari, worship Sudarshana, Pāñcajanya, the mace, sword, bow, and plough.
मुशलं कौस्तुभं मालां श्रीवत्सं चानुपूजयेत् । नंदं सुनंदं गरुडं प्रचंडं चंडमेव च
Also worship the pestle, Kaustubha gem, garland, Śrīvatsa mark; Nanda, Sunanda, Garuḍa, Pracaṇḍa, and Caṇḍa as well.
महाबलं बलं चैव कुमुदं कुमुदेक्षणम् । दुर्गां विनायकं व्यासं विष्वक्सेनं गुरून्सुरान्
Mahābala and Bala, Kumuda and Kumudekṣaṇa; Durgā, Vināyaka, Vyāsa, Viṣvaksena, the teachers, and the gods.
स्वेस्वे स्थानेष्वभिमुखान्पूजयेत्प्रोक्षणादिभिः । चंदनोशीरकर्पूर कुंकुमागुरुवासितैः
One should worship each, facing their own place, with sprinkling and other rites, with sandalwood, uśīra, camphor, saffron, aguru, and fragrant substances.
सलिलै स्नापयेन्मंत्रैर्नित्यं वा विभवे सति । स्वर्णघर्मानुवाकेन महापुरुषविद्यया
One should bathe them with water and mantras daily, if able, with the Svarṇagharmanuvāka and the Mahāpuruṣavidyā.
पौरुषेणापि सूक्तेन सामनीराजनादिभिः । वस्त्रोपवीताभरण पत्रस्रग्गंधलेपनैः
Also with the Pauruṣa Sūkta, with Sāman hymns and royal anointings; with cloth, sacred thread, ornaments, leaves, garlands, and fragrant ointments.
अलंकुर्वीत सप्रेम विष्णुभक्तो यथोचितम् । पाद्यमाचमनीयं च गंधं सुमनसोक्षतान्
A devotee of Vishnu, with love, should suitably adorn (the place), and offer water for washing the feet and sipping, as well as fragrance and fresh flowers.
गंधधूपोपहार्याणि दद्याद्वै श्रद्धयार्चकः । गुडपायससर्पींषि शष्कुल्यापूपमोदकान्
The worshipper should faithfully present fragrant incense and offerings, such as jaggery, rice pudding, clarified butter, flat cakes, fried cakes, and sweet dumplings.
पायसं दधिसर्पिश्च नैवेद्यं स विकल्पयेत् । अभ्यंगोन्मर्दनादर्श दंतधावाभिषेचनम्
He should select as offerings rice pudding, curd, and ghee; and also provide anointing, massage, mirror, tooth-cleaning, and bathing.
अन्नाद्यं नृत्यगीतानि सर्वाणि स्युरथान्वहम् । विधिना विहिते कुंडे मेखलावर्तवेदिभिः
Every day, there should be food and drink, as well as dance and songs; all performed in the prescribed altar with girdles and ritual enclosures.
अग्निमाधाय परितः समूहेत्पाणिनोदकम् । परिस्तीर्याथ पर्युक्ष्य दत्वा इध्मं यथाविधि
Having kindled the fire, he should gather water with his hands all around, then sprinkle and purify, and offer the kindling wood as prescribed.
प्रोक्षण्यासाद्य द्रव्याणि प्रोक्षण्यैवाज्यसेचनम् । तप्तजांबूनदप्रख्यं शंखचक्रगदांबुजैः
Having approached the sprinkling vessel, he should sprinkle the materials, and pour clarified butter as an offering; (the deity) shining like heated gold, bearing conch, discus, mace, and lotus.
लसच्चतुर्भुजं शांतं पद्मकिंजल्कवाससम् । स्फुरत्किरीटकटककटिसूत्रवरांगदम्
He should meditate on the tranquil, four-armed form, adorned in garments the color of a lotus filament, with a shining crown, bracelets, girdle, and excellent armlets.
श्रीवत्सवक्षसंभ्राजत्कौस्तुभं वनमालिनम् । ध्यायन्नभ्यर्च्य दारूणि हविषा सघृतानि च
He should contemplate the one whose chest is adorned with the Srivatsa mark, who wears the Kaustubha gem and a garland of forest flowers, and after worship, offer wood and oblations mixed with ghee.
प्रास्याज्यभागावाघारौ दत्वा चाज्यप्लुतं हविः । अभ्यर्च्याथ नमस्कृत्य पार्षदेभ्यो बलिं हरेत्
He should offer the portions of ghee and the aghara oblations, and then the offering soaked in ghee; after worshipping and bowing, he should present the offering to the attendants.
मूलमंत्रं जपेद्ब्रह्मन्स्मरन्नारायणात्मकम् । दत्वाचमनमुच्छिष्टं विष्वक्सेनाय कल्पयेत्
The Brahmin should recite the root mantra, remembering the essence of Narayana; after giving the leftover water for sipping, he should dedicate it to Vishvaksena.
मुखवासं तु सुरभिं तांबूलाद्यमुपाहरेत् । उपगायन्गृणन्नित्यं कर्माण्यभिरवाक्षरैः
He should offer fragrant mouth-perfume and betel and the like; always singing and praising with auspicious words during the rituals.
सत्कथां श्रावयञ्छृण्वन्मुहूर्तं क्षणिको भवेत् । स्तवैरुच्चावचैः स्तोत्रैः पौराणैः प्राकृतैरपि
He should listen to and recite sacred stories for a moment, even briefly; and praise with hymns, both elaborate and simple, from the Puranas and in common language.
स्तुत्वा प्रसीद भगवन्निति वंदेत दंडवत् । शिरस्तत्पादयोः कृत्वा बाहुभ्यां च परस्परम्
Having praised (the Lord) with 'Be gracious, O Bhagavan,' he should bow down, prostrating himself, placing his head and arms at the Lord's feet.
प्रपन्नं पाहि मामीश भीतं मृत्युग्रहार्णवात् । इति शेषान्हरेर्दत्ताञ्छिरस्याधाय सादरम्
He should say, 'Protect me, O Lord, who has taken refuge, fearful of the ocean of death and calamity,' and then, with reverence, place the Lord's remnants on his head.