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.
अथ प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा नमस्काराननंतरम् । अष्टयोषास्ततः प्राप्तास्तंत्रीवेण्वादिधारिकाः
After performing circumambulation 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 presence of the sage; taking up small cymbals, they themselves began to sing.
गौतमे गातुमुद्युक्ते तानं कुर्युरथांगनाः । मंदं मंदं च वाद्यानि वादयंति तथापराः
As Gautama prepared to sing, the women set the melody, while others played their instruments softly and gently.
मधुरं गायति मुनौ स्वरामूर्तिभृतस्तथा । प्रानृत्यंत महेशाग्रे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत्
In the presence of the sage, one sang sweetly, embodying the essence of melody; they danced before the great Lord, and it appeared truly wondrous.
एतस्मिन्नंतरे प्राप्तो भगवान्नारदो मुनिः । तमागतं गौतमोपि संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च
At that moment, the venerable sage Nārada arrived; Gautama, seeing him come, honored and bowed to him.
आहचैनंकृतार्थोस्मिनचकश्चिन्मयासमः । तवागमनकृत्यं किं कुत आगमनं तथा
He addressed him: 'I have accomplished my purpose here; there is no one equal to me. What is the reason for your coming? 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, the conqueror of enemy cities, arrived, accompanied by twenty akṣauhiṇīs, riding an elephant, along with the asuras.
अपरं हि गजं शुक्रः प्रह्लादो रथमुत्तमम् । वृषपर्वा रथवरं बलिस्तुरगमुत्तमम्
Another elephant was mounted by Śukra; Prahlāda rode an excellent chariot; Vṛṣaparvan had a fine chariot, and Bali rode a superb horse.
आगतानथ तान्सर्वानाज्ञाय स तु गौतमः । सशिष्यो निर्जगामाथ ह्यादायार्घ्यादिकं त्वरा
Seeing all of them arrive, Gautama, with his disciples, quickly went out, bringing offerings of water and other items.