इति पूजामंत्रः । स्थंडिले पूजयेद्देवं प्रतिमायामथापि वा । एकभक्तं स्वयं कुर्याद्ब्रह्मचर्यसमन्वितम्
This is the worship mantra; one should worship the deity on a sacred spot or with an image, and should take a single meal oneself, accompanied by celibacy.
एतत्सोमव्रतं प्रोक्तं शिवतुष्टिप्रदं शुभम् । य एवं कुरुते भक्त्या नारी वा पुरुषोपि वा
This is declared to be the Soma vow, auspicious and pleasing to Shiva; whoever performs it with devotion, whether woman or man,
छायेव शंकरस्यासौ नित्यमेवानुवर्तते । अद्य सोमदिनं प्राप्तं मध्याह्नात्परतो भुजिः
Follows Shankara always, just like a shadow; today, the Soma day has arrived, after midday you may eat.
यूयं च सर्वे मुनयः कृतपौर्वाह्णिकक्रियाः । माध्याह्निकीं क्रिंयां कृत्वा भोक्तुमर्हथ सत्तमाः
And all of you sages, having performed the morning rites, after completing the midday ritual, you best ones are worthy to eat.
मातुर्वचनमाकर्ण्य तथेत्युक्त्वा नमस्य च । अनुष्ठानाय ते सर्वे गता भागीरथीं नदीम्
Hearing their mother's words, saying 'so be it' and bowing, they all went to the Bhagirathi river to perform the observance.
संगमे मध्यतो वृत्ते कृत्वा माध्याह्निकीं क्रियाम् । विश्वेशपूजां कृत्वा च षोडशैरुपचारकैः
When the midday conjunction occurred, having performed the midday rite, and having worshipped the Lord of the Universe with sixteen offerings,
अथ ते पार्वतीगेहं गत्वा देवीं प्रणम्य च । लोकमातुर्नियोगेन शालंकायनकात्मजः
Then, going to Parvati's house and bowing to the goddess, by the command of the Mother of the World, the son of Shalankayana
पादप्रक्षालनमुखानुपचारानकल्पयत् । पंचगंधकमादाय तान्मुनीनभ्यलेपयत्
Arranged the offerings beginning with washing of the feet; taking the fivefold fragrant paste, he anointed those sages.
राज्यं च महदाप्नोति यो दद्यात्पंचगंधकम् । पंचबाणसमो भूत्वा स्त्रीणां वल्लभतामियात्
Whoever gives the fivefold fragrant paste attains great sovereignty; becoming like Kama, he becomes beloved of women.
विष्णवे यो हि दद्यात्तु सोपि मारसमो भवेत् । कामीत्वकामी यः कुर्यात्कैलासे पंचवत्सरान्
Whoever gives it to Vishnu also becomes like Kama; one who practices desire or non-desire for five years on Kailasa,
सर्वगंधसमोपेतो भोगी चेष्टार्थसंयुतः । यथेष्टवर्तनो भूत्वा ततो जायेत भूमिपः
Endowed with all fragrances, enjoying pleasures and desired objects, living as he wishes, then becomes a king.
कस्तूरीचंदनं चंद्रमगरुद्वितयं तथा । पंचगंधं समाख्यातं सर्वकार्येषु शोभनम्
Musk, sandalwood, camphor, and the two kinds of agaru—these are called the fivefold fragrance, auspicious for all purposes.
विलिप्तपंचगंधेषु ब्राह्मणेषु महात्मसु । आसीनेषु तदाभ्यागाद्ब्राह्मणः स्थविरः कृशः
When the great-souled Brahmins, anointed with the fivefold fragrance, were seated, then there arrived an aged, emaciated Brahmin.
उन्मत्तवेषो दिग्वासा जराजर्ज्जरितस्त्वरी । खल्वाटः श्वासकासी च बहुहिक्की क्षुधान्वितः
With the appearance of a madman, clothed in the directions, worn out by old age, bald, wheezing and coughing, hiccuping much, afflicted by hunger.
लालास्नुतः श्मश्रुकूर्चश्लेष्मानम्रः स्खलत्पदः । द्व्यष्टवर्षा तथा नारी सर्वाभरणभूषिता
Drooling, with a tangled beard, bent by phlegm, stumbling in his steps; and a woman, twenty-eight years old, adorned with all ornaments,
रूपलावण्यसंयुक्ता लोकोत्कृष्टस्वरूपिणी । पुरुषान्रूपसंयुक्तान्वीक्षंती च ततस्ततः
Endowed with beauty and charm, of form surpassing the world, glancing here and there at men endowed with handsome appearance.
गायंती त्वथ नृत्यंती तं दृष्ट्वाह सती पतिम् । प्रबाधते वृद्धधवं शीघ्रमेहि कृशाधम
Then, as she sang and danced, seeing her husband, the virtuous woman spoke: 'Hurry, come quickly, you wretched, emaciated old man!'
आलंब्य त्वत्करं वृद्ध दुःखिता नित्यमस्म्यहम् । भूषणं वसनं घ्राणं स्रग्विलेपनमेव च
Clinging to your hand, O old one, I am always afflicted with sorrow; whether it is ornaments, clothing, fragrance, garlands, or ointments—
हासो गीतिस्तथा पानं मंडनं शोभनं गृहम् । सर्वऋतुसमृद्धिश्च कामस्यैवाभिवृद्धये
Laughter, song, drinking, adornment, a splendid house, and prosperity in every season—all these exist only to increase desire.
सर्वेषामेव कामानां रतिरेका प्रयोजनम् । सुखानि सर्वाण्येकत्र रतिरेकत्र च स्थिता
For all desires, pleasure is the one purpose; all enjoyments are gathered in one place, and pleasure is found there alone.
तुलया तुलितं सर्वं रतिः शतगुणाधिका । तन्मादृशी समासाद्य भवंतं किं करिष्यति
If all were weighed on a scale, pleasure would be a hundred times greater; what could someone like me do, having obtained you?
इति चान्यानि वाक्यानि ब्रुवाणा गृह्य वै करे । तदुत्तरमुवाचेदं किं कुर्म्मो भाग्यमीदृशम्
Thus, as she spoke other words, taking his hand, he replied: 'What can we do? Such is our fate.'
मा मारय दुरुक्त्या त्वं मां विज्ञायाथ चेदृशम् । एतादृशो द्विजः प्रायात्पार्वतीमंदिरं तदा
'Do not kill me with harsh words, knowing me to be like this; at that time, such a brahmin went to Parvati’s abode.'
अविज्ञायैव गिरिजामिदं वचनमब्रवीत् । द्विज उवाच- अन्नार्थिनमिह प्राप्तं विद्धि मामतिथिं मुने
Without recognizing Girija, he spoke these words: The brahmin said— 'Know me, who have come here seeking food, as your guest, O sage.'
भोजनावसरे प्राप्तं ब्राह्मणान्न हि भोजय । तद्भार्यावचनं प्राह क्व मुनिर्योषिदेव हि
'A brahmin who arrives at mealtime must not go unfed; but his wife said, Where is the sage? It is only a woman.'
अंधस्य वचनं सर्वमेवमेतादृशं दृढम् । पार्वत्युवाच- प्रक्षाल्य चरणावेतमासने उपवेशय
'All the words of the blind man are always like this, firm and unchanging.' Parvati said: 'Wash his feet and seat him on the throne.'
जांबूनदकृतेतीव भोज्येनातर्पयद्द्विजम् । सुरत्नचषकोपेतममृतं ब्रह्मवादिनीम्
She satisfied the brahmin with food served in golden vessels, accompanied by cups of divine nectar.
अरुंधतीमथाहूय पर्य्यवेषयदंबिका । कला चारुंधती चैव अनसूया पतिव्रता
Then Ambika called Arundhati, who served him; Kala, Arundhati, and the devoted Anasuya—
परिवेषं पदार्थानां स्रग्गंधाक्षतभूषणाः । अकुर्वन्नंबिकावाक्यात्षड्रसानां पृथक्पृथक्
Adorned with garlands, fragrance, unbroken rice, and ornaments, at Ambika’s command they served the various dishes of the six tastes separately.
भुंजानेषु तु विप्रेषु दिग्वासा ब्राह्मणाकृतिः । क्षणेन बुभुजे सर्वं दातुं नो शेकुरंगनाः
As the brahmins were eating, a figure in the form of a brahmin, clad only in the directions, consumed everything in an instant; the women could not serve fast enough.