यद्वक्षःस्थलमाश्रित्य विष्णोः सौभाग्यमास्थितम्। रसरूपं न तद्यावदाप्नोति वसुधातले
That fortune, which had taken refuge on Vishnu's chest, did not assume a liquid form until it reached the earth.
उत्क्षिप्तमंतरिक्षात्तु ब्रह्मपुत्रेण धीमता। दक्षेण पीतमात्रं तद्रूपलावण्यकारकम्
Lifted from the sky by the wise son of Brahma, Daksha drank it, and it became the cause of his beauty and charm.
बलंतेजोमहज्जातं दक्षस्य परमेष्ठिनः। शेषं यदपतद्भूमावष्टधा तद्व्यजायत
The great strength and radiance born from Daksha, the supreme lord, fell to the earth as Śeṣa, and from it eightfold manifestations arose.
ततस्त्वोषधयो जाताः सप्त सौभाग्यदायिकाः। इक्षवस्तरुराजश्च निष्पवावश्शालिधान्यकम्
Then, seven auspicious plants were produced: the sugarcane, the king of trees, the niṣpava, the śāli rice, and the dhānya grain.
विकारवच्च गोक्षीरं कुसुंभं कुसुमं तथा। लवणं चाष्टमं तद्वत्सौभाग्याष्टकमुच्यते
Also, as transformations, cow's milk, kusumbha, and flowers arose, as well as salt as the eighth; these are called the eight auspicious things.
पीतं यद्ब्रह्मपुत्रेण योगज्ञानविदा पुरा। दुहिता साभवत्तस्माद्या सतीत्यभिधीयते
What was once drunk by the son of Brahma, who was skilled in yoga and knowledge, became his daughter, who is therefore called Satī.
लोकानतीत्य लालित्याल्ललिता तेन चोच्यते। त्रैलोक्यसुंदरीं देवीमुपयेमे पिनाकधृत्
Because she surpassed all worlds in grace, she is called Lalitā; the wielder of the bow (Śiva) married this goddess, the most beautiful in the three worlds.
त्रिविश्वसौभाग्यमयीं भुक्तिमुक्तिफलप्रदाम्। तामाराध्य पुमान्भक्त्या नारी वा किं न विंदति
She embodies the fortune of the three worlds and grants both enjoyment and liberation; by worshipping her with devotion, what man or woman does not attain their desires?
भीष्म उवाच। कथमाराधनं तस्या ललिताया मुने वद। यद्विधानं च जगतः शांतये तद्वदस्व मे
Bhīṣma said: O sage, tell me how to worship that Lalitā, and by what method peace is brought to the world.
पुलस्त्य उवाच। वसंतमासमासाद्य तृतीयायां जनप्रियः। शुक्लपक्षस्य पूर्वाह्णे तिलैः स्नानं समाचरेत्
Pulastya said: When the spring month arrives, on the third day, beloved by the people, one should bathe with sesame in the forenoon of the bright fortnight.
तस्मिन्नहनि सा देवी किल विश्वात्मना सती। पाणिग्रहणिकैर्मंत्रैरुदूढा वरवर्णिनी
On that day, the goddess Satī, of excellent complexion, was wedded to the soul of the universe with marriage mantras.
तया सहैव विश्वेशं तृतीयायामथार्चयेत्। फलैर्नानाविधैर्दीपैर्धूपैर्नैवेद्यसंयुतैः
On the third day, one should worship the Lord of the Universe together with her, offering various fruits, lamps, incense, and food.
प्रतिमां पंचगव्येन तथा गंधोदकेन च। स्नापयित्वार्चयेद्गौरीमिंदुशेखरसंयुताम्
After bathing the image with the five products of the cow and with fragrant water, one should worship Gaurī, adorned with the crescent moon.
नमोस्तु पाटलायै तु पादौ देव्याः शिवस्य च। शिवायेति च संकीर्त्य जयायै गुल्फयोर्द्वयोः
One should bow to Pāṭalā and to the feet of the goddess and Śiva, reciting 'To Śivā,' and to Jayā at both ankles.
त्र्यंबकायेति रुद्रस्य भवान्यै जंघयोर्युगम्। शिरो रुद्रेश्वरायेति विजयायै च जानुनी
Reciting 'To Tryambaka' for Rudra and 'To Bhavānī' for both shanks, 'To Rudreśvara' for the head, and 'To Vijayā' for the knees.
संकीर्त्य हरिकेशाय तथोरुवरदे नमः। ईशायेति कटिं रत्यै शंकरायेति शंकरम्
Reciting 'To Harikeśa' for the thighs, 'Obeisance to the bestower of boons,' 'To Īśā' for the waist, 'To Rati,' and 'To Śaṃkara' for Śaṃkara.
कुक्षिद्वयं च कोटव्यै शूलिनं शूलपाणये। मंगलायै नमस्तुभ्यमुदरं चाभिभूजयेत्
For both sides of the abdomen, to Koṭavī, to the wielder of the trident, and to Maṅgalā, one should honor the belly, saying, 'Obeisance to you.'
सर्वात्मने नमो रुद्रमीशान्यै च कुचद्वयम्। शिवं वेदात्मने तद्वद्रुद्राण्यै कंठमर्चयेत्
To Sarvātmā, obeisance; to Rudra, and to Īśānī for both breasts; to Śiva, the soul of the Vedas, likewise to Rudrāṇī, one should worship the throat.
त्रिपुरघ्नाय विश्वेशमनंतायै करद्वयम्। त्रिलोचनायेति हरं बाहू कालानलप्रिये
To the slayer of Tripura, to the Lord of the Universe, to Anantā for both hands; reciting 'To the three-eyed one' for Hara, and to the beloved of the fire of time for the arms.
सौभाग्यभवनायेति भूषणानि सदार्चयेत्। स्वाहास्वधायै च मुखमीश्वरायेति शूलिनम्
To the abode of fortune, one should always worship the ornaments; to Svāhā and Svadhā for the mouth, and to Īśvara for the wielder of the trident.
अशोकवनवासिन्यै पूज्यावोष्ठौ च भूतिदौ। स्थाणवे च हरं तद्वदास्यं चंद्रमुखप्रिये
To her who dwells in the Ashoka grove, offer worship to her lips, which bestow prosperity; likewise, to Sthanu and Hara, worship the face, beloved of the moon-faced one.
नमोर्धनारीशहरमसितांगीति नासिकाम्। नम उग्राय लोकेशं ललितेति पुनर्भ्रुवौ
Bow to the lord of women and Hara for the nose, dark-limbed one; bow to Ugra, lord of the world, and again to Lalita for the brows.
शर्वाय पुरहर्त्तारं वासुदेव्यै तथालकम्। नमः श्रीकंठनाथाय शिवकेशांस्तथार्चयेत्
Bow to Sharva, the destroyer of cities, and to Vasudevi for the hair; bow to Shri Kanthanatha and then worship Shiva's locks.
भीमोग्रभीमरूपिण्यै शिरः सर्वात्मने नमः। हरमभ्यर्च्य विधिवत्सौभाग्याष्टकमग्रतः
To the terribly fierce, of terrible form, bow to the head; to the all-pervading one, bow; having worshipped Hara according to the rite, recite the Eight Auspicious Verses in front.
स्थापयेत्स्निग्धनिष्पावान्कुसुंभक्षीरजीरकम्। तरुराजेक्षुलवणं कुस्तुंबुरुमथाष्टमम्
One should place tender niṣpāva beans, kusumbha, kṣīra, and jīraka; taru, rājakṣava, lavaṇa, kustumburu, and then the eighth, matha.
दद्यात्सौभाग्यकृद्यस्मात्सौभाग्याष्टकमित्युत। एवंनिवेद्य तत्सर्वमग्रतः शिवयोः पुनः
These eight, known as the Eight Auspicious Substances, should be offered, for they bring good fortune; having thus presented all these before Shiva and his consort again—
चैत्रे शृंगाटकान्प्राश्य स्वपेद्भूमावरिंदम। पुनः प्रभाते च तथा कृतस्नानजपः शुचिः
In the month of Chaitra, after eating śṛṅgāṭaka, one should sleep on the ground, O lotus-born; then in the morning, having bathed and recited, being pure—
संपूज्य द्विजदांपत्यं माल्यवस्त्रं विभूषणैः। सौभाग्याष्टकसंयुक्त सौवर्णं प्रतिमाद्वयम्
One should worship a pair of brahmin spouses with garlands, garments, and ornaments; together with the Eight Auspicious Substances, offer two golden images.
प्रीयतां मेत्र ललिता ब्राह्मणाय निवेदयेत्। एवं संवत्सरं यावत्तृतीयायां सदा नृप
May Lalita be pleased with me—thus, offer to the brahmin; in this way, every year on the third day, O king—
प्राशने दानमंत्रे च विशेषोयं निबोध मे। गोशृंगांबु मधौ प्रोक्तं वैशाखे गोमयं पुनः
In the matter of eating and giving, there is this special rule—listen to me: in Chaitra, water from a cow's horn is prescribed; in Vaishakha, cow dung.