भानोरावरणं चेश इति षोढावृतिः स्मृता । विधिं विना समाख्यातं पंचावरणमुत्तमम्
The covering of the sun is Īśa (the Lord); thus, six coverings are remembered; excluding Vidhi, five supreme coverings are declared.
शशांकविष्णुशक्तीनामेतदावरणत्रयम् । अंबिकावरणं प्रोक्तमेकावरणमुत्तमम्
The three coverings of the moon, Viṣṇu, and Śakti are thus described; the covering of Ambikā is said to be the single supreme covering.
अथवा लोकपालाः स्युरावृतिः सोमपूजने । अनावरणमथवा पूजनं शस्यते शिवे
Alternatively, the guardians of the world may be the covering in the worship of Soma; or, worship without any covering is praised for Śiva.
पत्रिकाष्टदलेष्वेव स्थितद्रव्यैर्यजेच्छिवम् । पत्रिकालक्षणं वक्ष्ये सर्वकर्मोपयोगितम्
One should worship Śiva with substances placed on eight-petaled plates; I will describe the characteristics of the plate, suitable for all rites.
स्वर्णेन राजतेनाथ ताम्रेणाथ प्रकल्पितम् । मुक्ताशुक्तिनिभं कुर्यात्पत्रिकाष्टदलं शुभम्
It should be fashioned from gold, silver, or copper, or made to resemble a pearl-oyster; the auspicious eight-petaled plate should be made thus.
पद्मपत्रसमानाष्टकोणाकारं प्रकल्पयेत् । पलमात्रं ततः शस्तं निर्वृतं विस्तृतं पदम्
It should be shaped with eight corners like a lotus petal; its size should be one pala, well-formed, and spacious.
अस्थूलमध्यमुपरि पद्माकृतिदलाष्टकम् । अथवा शक्तिमार्गेण पंचपत्रं प्रकल्पयेत्
Not thick in the middle or upper part, with eight petals in the form of a lotus; or, by the Śakti method, a five-petaled plate may be made.
त्रिपत्रमथवा कुर्याच्छक्तिभावे मतेन च । यथा स्याच्छोभनं पात्रं तथा कुर्य्याद्विचक्षणः
Or, according to some, a three-petaled plate may be made in the Śakti tradition; the discerning should make the vessel as beautiful as possible.
शक्त्यांतरितरुद्राक्षैः कल्पिताष्टशतैः शुभा । मालोपवीतं त्रिंशत्या अष्टकेन प्रकल्पितम्
Auspicious ones are made with eight hundred rudrākṣa beads strung with Śakti in between; a garland or sacred thread is made with thirty or eight beads.
प्रगंडयोरथैकैकं बद्धा तु द्वे प्रकोष्ठयोः । शिरस्येका धृता तेन कंठे च परमर्षिणा
One is tied on each cheek, two on the forearms; one is worn on the head, and thus by the great sage, also on the neck.
रुद्राक्षैः स्फटिकै रत्नैः कल्पिता ह्यक्षमालिका । व्याघ्रचर्मासनं कृत्वा पद्मासनगतो मुनिः
A rosary made of rudraksha beads, crystal, and gems was prepared; the sage, seated upon a tiger skin in the lotus posture,
आवाहनासनं चार्घ्यं पाद्यं वाचमनीयकम् । निर्वर्त्य गंगासलिलैः स्नापयामास शंकरम्
Having arranged the seat for invocation, the offering of water for washing the feet, and the water for sipping, he bathed Shankara with waters from the Ganga.
अष्टगंधकसंयुक्तैः पुष्पैर्बकुलपाटलैः । स्वर्णभांडस्थितैर्वस्त्रशोधितैर्वासितैर्दृढम्
With flowers of bakula and patala, combined with eight kinds of fragrant substances, placed in golden vessels, purified and perfumed cloths were used firmly.
द्वारे ताम्रकटाहश्च प्रबंधद्रोणिना शुभम् । गोशृंगेण विषाणेन गवयस्य तथा क्वचित्
At the doorway, a copper vessel was placed, along with a beautiful trough; sometimes with the horn of a cow or a wild ox.
दक्षिणावर्तशंखेन रत्नपात्रैरथापि वा । स्वर्णैर्वा राजतैर्वापि ताम्रैः कांस्यैरथापि वा
With a right-spiraling conch, or with vessels of gems, or else with gold, silver, copper, or bronze,
स्वर्णैश्च सूक्ष्मकलशैः स्नापयामास चेच्छया । अथवा मृण्मयैः कुर्य्यात्पद्मपत्रैरथापि वा
He bathed (the deity) as he wished with fine golden pots; or else one may use clay vessels, or lotus leaves.
पालाशैश्चूतजंब्वाद्यैः पात्रैः संस्नापयेद्विभुम् । स्नानानामथ सर्वेषां धारास्नानं विशिष्यते
With vessels made from palasha, mango, and jambū trees, one should bathe the Lord; among all types of bathing, the stream-bath is considered superior.
नमस्तेत्यादिमंत्रेण शतरुद्रियसंज्ञिना । शं चेत्याद्यनुवाकेन शांतिरूपेण चेश्वरम्
With the mantra beginning 'namas' and known as the Shatarudriya, and with the passage beginning 'sham', in the form of peace, (he worshipped) the Lord.
आवृत्य च यथाशक्ति पश्चाद्गंधादि विन्यसेत् । ततश्च शोभनैः पुष्पैः पत्रैर्बिल्वैः समर्चयेत्
Having covered (the deity) as best as possible, he then applied fragrances and other offerings; afterwards, he worshipped with beautiful flowers and bilva leaves.
तुलसीमारुवदलैः कल्हारैश्च महोत्पलैः । नीलोत्पलैरुत्पलैश्च शेषैश्च करवीरकैः
With leaves of tulasi and maruva, with kalhāra and great lotuses, with blue lotuses, lotuses, and also with karavīra flowers,
कर्णिकारैः सितांभोजैरपराजितया तथा । तिलाक्षतैरक्षतैश्च श्रीपत्रैस्तिलमिश्रकैः
With karnikara flowers, white lotuses, and also with aparajita; with sesame grains, unbroken rice, auspicious leaves mixed with sesame,
एवं महेशमीशानं पूजयामास गौतमः । कर्पूरागरुकस्तूरी सर्ज्जागरुकचंदनैः
Thus Gautama worshipped Mahesha, the Lord, with camphor, agaru, kasturi, sarja, agaru, and sandalwood.
अन्यैश्च धूपयामास षोडशाथ प्रदीपिकाः । कर्पूरवर्त्तिसंयुक्ता दीपयंत्रोपरिस्थिताः
He also offered incense with other substances, and sixteen lamps; the lamps, with camphor wicks, were placed upon lamp-stands.
निवेदितं महेशाय अथ नैवेद्यमुत्तमम् । सुपक्वशालिपिष्टान्नं भक्ष्यं लेह्यं च चोष्यकम्
Then the finest offering was presented to Mahesha: well-cooked rice flour food, items to eat, lick, and suck.
मधुरादिसमोपेतं पंचभक्ष्यसमन्वितम् । अनेकपक्वशाकाढ्यमनेक पक्वमिश्रितम्
Accompanied by sweet and other flavors, with five kinds of food, enriched with many cooked vegetables and various cooked mixtures.
पानं विंशतिसंयुक्तं द्राक्षारंभाफलान्वितम् । सूपाष्टकादिसंयुक्तं युक्तं मूलफलादिना
A drink combined with twenty ingredients, containing grapes and arambha fruits, together with soups and other items, and with roots, fruits, and the like.
यथासंभवसंयुक्तैरन्यैरप्युपकल्पितम् । अग्रपुष्पसमोपेतं नैवेद्यं प्रददौ मुनिः
Prepared with whatever else was available, and adorned with the best flowers, the sage offered the sacred food.
सौवर्णपात्रिका न्यस्तनीराजनसहस्रकम् । सोपहाराय देवाय दत्वा चैव नमस्य च
A thousandfold waving of lights was performed, placed in golden vessels; having given the offering to the deity, he bowed in reverence.
पूगखंडानथो घृष्टान्पत्राणि क्षालितानि च । अपृष्ठाग्राणि सुश्वेतच्छदयावृतिकानि च
Then, pieces of areca nut, well ground, and leaves that have been washed, with their tips unbroken, pure white, and covered with a fine sheath—
घनसारकचूर्णं च न्यस्तपत्रत्रयं शुभम् । सौवर्णपात्रविन्यस्तमिदं तांबूलमीश्वरे
—along with fragrant camphor powder, and three auspicious leaves placed together, set in a golden vessel—this betel offering was presented to the Lord.