तच्छ्रुत्वा राघवः शंभुं पप्रच्छ विनयान्वितः । सोपि तद्वाक्यमाकर्ण्य प्रत्युवाच महामतिः
Hearing this, Rāghava respectfully questioned Śaṃbhu; and he, listening to those words, replied with great wisdom.
शंभुरुवाच- पुराणजीवी पूजार्हः स्वशाखाध्ययनः शुचिः । मीमांसातत्त्वविज्ञानः श्रोत्रियोऽनृतदूषकः
Śaṃbhu said: One who lives by the Purāṇas, who is worthy of worship, who has studied his own branch, who is pure, who knows the essence of Mīmāṃsā, who is learned in the Vedas, and who avoids falsehood—
देवेषु च समस्तेषु समदृष्टिः शिवे रतः । शतरुद्रियजापी च साग्निकश्चातिवाचकः
With equal vision toward all the gods, devoted to Shiva, reciting the Śatarudriya, performing rituals with fire, and uttering sacred words.
यजुर्वेदी विशेषेण पूजयेत्पुस्तकं सुधीः । श्रीतालपत्रलिखितं देवलिप्यन्वितं शुभम्
Especially the wise one versed in the Yajur Veda should worship the book, auspicious and inscribed on palm leaves, adorned with divine script.
बंधाद्यतिप्रपंचं यद्युगपत्प्रणवाक्षरम् । प्रागूर्द्ध्वंरेखयोः प्रांते प्रणवस्याग्रयोजिका
If, at once, the syllable of the Pranava is bound with the extensive marks, then at the ends of the lines, the tip of the Pranava is joined.
रेखा भवेदेवमेका अकारस्तस्य पार्श्वतः । शिरोभागमुपक्रम्य सकोणाधः प्रलंबिनी
Thus, a single line is formed, with the letter 'a' beside it, beginning at the upper part, hanging down with an angle below.
आकारः स हि विज्ञेयः पट्टिकादक्षरेखया । वामे षड्वक्रबिंदूद्वा विकार इति कीर्तितः
That form is to be understood as the 'ā' by the line of the script, and to the left, with six bends and dots, it is called a variant.
तस्य वामशिरोरेखा लंबिन्या ई उदाहृतः । सर्वाक्षरे शिरोरेखा अवक्रा प्रणवं विना
The left upper line of that hanging form is called 'ī'; in all letters, the upper line is curved, except for the Pranava.
तस्यां तु लंबरेखान्या तदंते च लवित्रवत् । उकारः स हि विख्यातो लवित्रद्वयतस्तदू
In that, the hanging line at the end is like a spade; that is known as 'u', and from the two spades, it is derived.
एवमन्यानि सर्वाणि अक्षराण्याह भारती । लिप्यानयैव लिखितं पुराणं तु प्रशस्यस्ते
Thus, all other letters are described by Bhāratī; a Purāṇa written in this script is praised.
ब्राह्मं पाद्मं वैष्णवं च मार्तंडं नारदेरितम् । मार्कंडेयमथाग्नेयं कौर्मं वामनमेव च
Brāhma, Padma, Vaiṣṇava, Mārtaṇḍa, Nārada, Mārkaṇḍeya, Agneya, Kaurma, and Vāmana as well.
गारुडं लैंगमाख्यातं स्कांदं मात्स्यं नृसिंहकम् । तथैव गदितं राम पुराणं कापिलं तथा
Gāruḍa, Laiṅga, Skānda, Mātsya, Nṛsiṃha, likewise the Rāma Purāṇa and Kāpila as well.
वाराहं ब्रह्मवैवर्तं शकुनेषु प्रशस्यते । शैवं भागवतं दौर्गं भविष्योत्तरमेव च
Vārāha, Brahmavaivarta, are praised among the birds; Śaiva, Bhāgavata, Daurga, and Bhaviṣyottara as well.
भविष्यं चोपसंज्ञानि त्वन्यानि च विवर्जयेत् । विमुच्य पुस्तकं रत्नपीठे निक्षिप्य संस्कृतम्
One should avoid the Bhaviṣya and other supplementary texts; after purifying, place the book on a jeweled seat.
धौतवस्त्रधरः स्नात्वा शुचिरक्रोधनोऽज्वरः । आदावात्मानमभ्यर्च्य कृत्वा संकल्पमेव च
Wearing clean clothes, having bathed, pure, free from anger and fever, first worship oneself and make a resolve.
अंकुशं चाक्षसूत्रं च पाशं पुस्तकमेव च । धारयंतीं सितां ध्यायेत्प्रसन्नास्यां सरस्वतीम्
Meditate on Sarasvatī, holding a goad, rosary, noose, and book, fair in color, with a serene face.
गोक्षीरसदृशाकारं त्रिनेत्रं वृषवाहनम् । सहासवदनं शांतं शुक्लांबरधरं शिवम्
With a form like cow's milk, three-eyed, riding a bull, smiling, peaceful, clad in white, Shiva.
हरिणं चाभयं चोर्द्ध्वबाहुयुग्मं किरीटिनम् । व्याख्यामुद्रा चं दक्षेधो वामहस्ते वरप्रदम्
A deer, the gesture of fearlessness, two raised arms, crowned; the gesture of explanation in the right hand, boon-giving in the left.
नानारत्नविभूषाढ्यं गिरिजार्द्धांबुजासनम् । बहुभिर्मुनिमुख्यैस्तु ध्यायमान पदांबुजम्
Adorned with various jewels, seated on a lotus with Girijā on one half, worshipped by many foremost sages at his lotus feet.
मूर्तिमद्भिस्तथा वेदैः स्तूयमानं पुराणकैः । अन्यैः समस्तलोकैश्च संसेवितपदांबुजम्
Praised by Vedas with form, by Purāṇas, and served by all worlds, his lotus feet are attended.
ध्यात्वैवं पूजकः सम्यगादौ पूजां समारभेत् । आपो वा इदमित्येतत्कलशस्याभिमंत्रणम्
Having thus meditated, the worshipper should properly begin the worship at the outset; the mantra for consecrating the pot is: 'This indeed is water.'
तज्जलं च गृहीत्वा च पात्रस्थमभिमंत्रयेत् । तत्सद्ब्रह्मेति मंत्रेण प्रशस्य प्रणवेन तु
Then, taking that water, he should enchant it while it is in the vessel, using the mantra 'That is true Brahman,' along with the excellent syllable Om.
आत्मानं सर्वपात्राणि तत आवाहयेदिति । यद्वागिति तृचेनैव भारती षोडशार्चनम्
He should invoke himself and all the vessels with the mantra, 'Let him be invoked here,' or else, with the threefold verse beginning 'yad vāg,' perform the sixteenfold worship of Sarasvati.
पुरुषसूक्तेन वा कुर्याद्गायत्र्या वा समर्चयेत् । ॐ नमो भगवते अमुक पुराणेति पुराणमर्चयेत्
He may perform the worship with the Purusha Sukta or with the Gayatri, or worship the Purana with the mantra: 'Om, obeisance to the blessed one, to such-and-such Purana.'
कांडादिति हि मंत्रेण दूर्वामानीय पूजयेत् । ॐ नमो भगवत्यै दूर्वायै इति
With the mantra 'Kanda,' he should bring and worship the sacred grass, saying: 'Om, obeisance to the blessed Durva.'
सलोकपाल पूजा स्यादथ कन्या समर्चनम् । वत्सरात्पंचकादूर्द्ध्वं दशवर्षादधः शुभाः
Then comes the worship of the guardians of the worlds, and next the honoring of a maiden; auspicious are those above five and below ten years of age.
अनुत्पन्नऋतुर्वापि तां प्रयत्नेन पूजयेत् । गंधपुष्पाक्षतैर्धूपैर्दीपतांबूलभूषणैः
Or, even if she has not reached puberty, she should be worshipped with care, with fragrance, flowers, rice grains, incense, lamps, betel, and ornaments.
पाठयेदप्यमुं मंत्रं पूजकः कन्यकामिमाम्
The worshipper should also recite this mantra to the maiden:
सत्यं ब्रूहि प्रियं ब्रूहि भगवति सरस्वति नमस्ते नमस्त इति
'Speak truth, speak kindly, O blessed Sarasvati, obeisance, obeisance to you.'
गायत्र्यानुक्रमार्थात्तु दूर्वायुग्मं तु कारयेत् । सन्निधौ पुस्तकस्याधः सहस्रपरमेत्यृचा
According to the order of the Gayatri, he should prepare a pair of sacred grasses; in the presence of the book, beneath it, with the verse 'sahasraparam.'