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.
गौतमं चापि ते वीक्ष्यावरुह्य च गजादिकात् । नमश्चक्रुरथो दैत्यास्तं नमस्कृत्य भार्गवम्
Seeing Gautama, they descended from their elephants and other mounts; the daityas bowed to him, and after saluting, honored Bhārgava as well.
आलिंग्य राक्षसान्सर्वान्पूजयित्वा यथाविधि । सेनायाः सन्निवेशं च चकार मुनिपुंगवः
Embracing all the rākṣasas and honoring them according to custom, the eminent sage arranged the encampment of their army.
पादौ प्रक्षाल्य शुक्रस्य जलं मूर्ध्नि धृतं तथा । विचित्रफलसंयुक्तं दत्तवानर्हणं मुनिः
He washed Śukra’s feet, poured water on his head, and gave him a worthy offering, adorned with various fruits.
वापीतडागसरसी स्नानपूर्वकृत क्रियाः । संगमे वर्तमाने तु गौतमस्याश्रमे शुभे
After bathing in ponds, tanks, and lakes, and performing the prescribed rites, they gathered at the auspicious hermitage of Gautama.
तद्गेहं तु प्रविश्याथ राक्षसास्सपुरोहिताः । देवपूजाप्रपत्तिं च चक्रुः सर्वे द्विजालये
Then, entering the house, the rākṣasas with their priests all engaged in the worship of the gods in the dwelling of the twice-born.
सद्यः प्रकल्पितायां च वेद्यां शुक्रोऽयजच्छिवम् । तस्यैव वामभागे तु प्रह्लादोयजदच्युतम्
On the altar, which had been promptly prepared, Śukra offered sacrifice to Śiva; on the left side, Prahlāda offered worship to Acyuta.
सोमं च बलिरप्येवमन्ये चासुरपुंगवाः । अथ बाणोऽयजद्देवमेकमेव त्रियंबकम्
Soma, Bali, and other foremost Asuras likewise; then Bāṇa worshipped the one god, Tryambaka.
शुक्रोपि भगवन्तन्तमुमानाथमपूजयत् । गौतमोप्यथ मध्याह्ने पूजयामास शंकरम्
Śukra also worshipped that Lord, the consort of Umā; and Gautama, at midday, worshipped Śaṅkara.
सर्वे शुक्लांबरधरा भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः । सितेन भस्मना कृत्वा सर्वस्थाने त्रिपुंड्रकम्
All of them wore white garments, their bodies smeared with ashes; with white ash, they marked tripuṇḍra on every part.
नत्वा तु भार्गवं सर्वे भूतशुद्धिं प्रचक्रमुः । हृत्पद्ममध्ये सुषिरं तत्रैव भूतपंचकम्
Having bowed to Bhārgava, they all performed purification of the elements; in the lotus of the heart, in its hollow, the five elements reside there.