ज्ञानं लब्ध्वाचिरादेव शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् तस्मान्मुक्तो शिवाज्ञप्तः कर्मयज्ञो ऽपि देहिनाम्
By attaining knowledge, one quickly reaches union with Shiva; therefore, even the sacrifice of actions, when performed by those liberated and commanded by Shiva, is for embodied beings.
अकामः कामसंयुक्तो बन्धायैव भविष्यति तस्मात्पञ्चसु यज्ञेषु ध्यानज्ञानपरो भवेत्
If performed without desire, it leads to liberation; if performed with desire, it results only in bondage. Therefore, among the five sacrifices, one should be devoted to meditation and knowledge.
ध्यानं ज्ञानं च यस्यास्ति तीर्णस्तेन भवार्णवः हिंसादिदोषनिर्मुक्तो विशुद्धश्चित्तसाधनः
He who possesses both meditation and knowledge crosses over the ocean of worldly existence; freed from faults such as violence, with a purified mind as his means.
ध्यानयज्ञः परस्तस्मादपवर्गफलप्रदः बहिः कर्मकरा यद्वन्नातीव फलभागिनः
Among these, the sacrifice of meditation is supreme, bestowing the fruit of liberation; just as those engaged in external actions receive only limited results.
दृष्ट्वा नरेन्द्रभवने तद्वदत्रापि कर्मिणः ध्यानिनां हि वपुः सूक्ष्मं भवेत्प्रत्यक्षमैश्वरम्
Just as in the palace of a king, so also here among those who act; the form of those who meditate is subtle, and their divine presence is directly perceived.
यथेह कर्मणां स्थूलं मृत्काष्ठाद्यैः प्रकल्पितम् ध्यानयज्ञरतास्तस्माद्देवान्पाषाणमृण्मयान्
As here, the gross forms of actions are constructed from clay, wood, and the like, so those devoted to the sacrifice of meditation surpass the gods made of stone or clay.
नात्यंतं प्रतिपद्यंते शिवयाथात्म्यवेदनात् आत्मस्थं यः शिवं त्यक्त्वा बहिरभ्यर्चयेन्नरः
They do not attain the ultimate, because they do not realize the true nature of Shiva; abandoning Shiva who dwells within the self, a man worships externally.
हस्तस्थं फलमुत्सृज्य लिहेत्कूर्परमात्मनः ज्ञानाद्ध्यानं भवेद्ध्यानाज्ज्ञानं भूयः प्रवर्तते
Let him not discard the fruit already in his hand and lick his own elbow; from knowledge arises meditation, and from meditation, knowledge again proceeds.
तदुभाभ्यां भवेन्मुक्तिस्तस्माद्ध्यानरतो भवेत् द्वादशान्ते तथा मूर्ध्नि ललाटे भ्रूयुगान्तरे
From both together comes liberation; therefore, one should be devoted to meditation—at the end of twelve fingers' breadth, at the crown of the head, at the forehead, or between the eyebrows.
नासाग्रे वा तथास्ये वा कन्धरे हृदये तथा नाभौ वा शाश्वतस्थाने श्रद्धाविद्धेन चेतसा
Or at the tip of the nose, at the mouth, at the neck, at the heart, or at the navel—at these eternal places, with a mind pierced by faith.
बहिर्यागोपचारेण देवं देवीं च पूजयेत् अथवा पूजयेन्नित्यं लिंगे वा कृतकेपि वा
With external offerings, one should worship the god and the goddess; or one may worship always, whether in a liṅga or even in an artificial form.
वह्नौ वा स्थण्डिले वाथ भक्त्या वित्तानुसारतः अथवांतर्बहिश्चैव पूजयेत्परमेश्वरम् अंतर्यागरतः पूजां बहिः कुर्वीत वा न वा
Or in fire, or on a sacrificial altar, according to one's devotion and means; or both internally and externally, one should worship the Supreme Lord. If devoted to internal worship, one may perform external worship or not.
व्याख्यां पूजाविधानस्य प्रवदामि समासतः शिवशास्त्रे शिवेनैव शिवायै कथितस्य तु
I shall briefly explain the method of worship, as taught by Shiva himself to the goddess in the scripture of Shiva.
अंगमभ्यंतरं यागमग्निकार्यावसानकम् विधाय वा न वा पश्चाद्बहिर्यागं समाचरेत्
The internal worship, up to the completion of the fire ritual, may be performed or not; afterwards, one should perform the external worship.
तत्र द्रव्याणि मनसा कल्पयित्वा विशोध्य च ध्यात्वा विनायकं देवं पूजयित्वा विधानतः
There, having mentally conceived and purified the offerings, and having meditated on the god Vinayaka, one should worship him according to the prescribed method.
दक्षिणे चोत्तरे चैव नंदीशं सुयशं तथा आराध्य मनसा सम्यगासनं कल्पयेद्बुधः
On the right and left, one should worship Nandi and Suyaśa; having properly worshipped them in the mind, the wise should arrange the seat.
आराधनादिकैर्युक्तस्सिंहयोगासनादिकम् पद्मासनं वा विमलं तत्त्वत्रयसमन्वितम्
Endowed with the acts of worship and the like, with the lion posture or similar, or with the pure lotus posture, accompanied by the three principles.
तस्योपरि शिवं ध्यायेत्सांबं सर्वमनोहरम् सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं सर्वावयवशोभनम्
Upon that, one should meditate on Shiva with his consort, supremely enchanting, endowed with all auspicious marks, beautiful in every limb.
सर्वातिशयसंयुक्तं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् रक्तास्यपाणिचरणं कुंदचंद्रस्मिताननम्
Endowed with every excellence, adorned with all ornaments, with red mouth, hands, and feet, and a face smiling like jasmine and the moon.
शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं फुल्लपद्मत्रिलोचनम् चतुर्भुजमुदाराङ्गं चारुचंद्रकलाधरम्
Resembling pure crystal, with three eyes like blooming lotuses, four-armed, with noble limbs, and bearing a beautiful crescent moon.
वरदाभयहस्तं च मृगटंकधरं हरम् भुजंगहारवलयं चारुनीलगलांतरम्
With hands granting boons and dispelling fear, bearing the antelope mark, the Lord, adorned with serpent garlands and bracelets, with a lovely blue throat.
सर्वोपमानरहितं सानुगं सपरिच्छदम् ततः संचिंतयेत्तस्य वामभागे महेश्वरीम्
Without any equal, accompanied by attendants and retinue; then, one should contemplate the great goddess at his left side.
प्रफुल्लोत्पलपत्राभां विस्तीर्णायतलोचनाम् पूर्णचंद्राभवदनां नीलकुंचितमूर्धजाम्
With eyes wide and long like the petals of a fully blossomed blue lotus, a face like the full moon, and dark, curly hair.
नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यां चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम् अतिवृत्तघनोत्तुंगस्निग्धपीनपयोधराम्
Resembling the petals of a blue lotus, crowned with a crescent moon, with exceedingly full, firm, and glossy breasts, high and prominent.
तनुमध्यां पृथुश्रोणीं पीतसूक्ष्मवराम्बराम् सर्वाभरणसंपन्नां ललाटतिलकोज्ज्वलाम्
With a slender waist, broad hips, clothed in fine yellow garments, adorned with all ornaments, and a shining mark on her forehead.
विचित्रपुष्पसंकीर्णकेशपाशोपशोभिताम् सर्वतो ऽनुगुणाकारां किंचिल्लज्जानताननाम्
Her hair beautifully arranged and adorned with various flowers, her form harmonious in every way, her face showing a touch of modesty.
हेमारविंदं विलसद्दधानां दक्षिणे करे दंडवच्चापरं हस्ते न्यस्यासीनां महासने
Holding a shining golden lotus in her right hand, and in the other, resting a staff, she is seated upon a great throne.
पाशविच्छेदिकां साक्षात्सच्चिदानंदरूपिणीम् एवं देवं च देवीं च ध्यात्वासनवरे शुभे
Holding a noose-cutter, manifesting the form of existence, consciousness, and bliss; thus, having meditated on the god and goddess upon the auspicious seat.
सर्वोपचारवद्भक्त्या भावपुष्पैस्समर्चयेत् अथवा परिकल्प्यैवं मूर्तिमन्यतमां विभोः
With all offerings and devotion, one should worship with flowers of the mind; or, having imagined any other form of the Lord in this way.
शैवीं सदाशिवाख्यां वा तथा माहेश्वरीं पराम् षड्विंशकाभिधानां वा श्रीकंठाख्यामथापि वा
Whether as Śivī, called Sadāśiva, or as the supreme Māheśvarī, or as the one known as Ṣaḍviṃśakā, or as Śrīkaṇṭha.