पुनर्निनिंद चात्मानं धर्मपीठ प्रभावतः
Again he reproached himself, because of the power of the seat of righteousness.
जंतूद्वेगकरं मूढं प्रजापीडनपंडितम्
A fool, causing distress to creatures, skilled in oppressing his subjects—
अद्ययावन्मम गतं वृथाजन्माल्पमेधस
Until today, my birth has been in vain, I who possess little wisdom.
एवं बहु विनिंद्य स्वं नत्वा धर्मेश्वरं विभुम्
Thus, having greatly reproached himself, he bowed to the Lord of Dharma, the mighty one.
ततोमात्यान्समाहूय क्रमायातांश्चिरंतनान् 4.2.81.
Then, summoning his ministers, those who had come in succession from ancient times,
ब्राह्मणांश्चनमस्कृत्य तेभ्यो वृत्तीः प्रदाय च
And having bowed to the Brahmins, he gave them means of livelihood.
परिदंड्य च दंडार्हान्साधूंश्च परितोष्य च
He punished those deserving punishment, satisfied the virtuous, and
समागच्छदथैकाकी काशीं श्रेयोविकासिनीम्
Then he set out alone for Kashi, the city where virtue flourishes.
धर्मेशदर्शनान्नित्यं तथाभूतः स दुर्दमः
From seeing the Lord of Dharma, he was ever thus—difficult to restrain.
इत्थं धर्मेश माहात्म्यं मया स्वल्पं निरूपितम्
Thus, I have briefly described the greatness of the Lord of Dharma.
इदं धर्मेश्वराख्यानं यः श्रोष्यति नरोत्तमः
Whoever, O best of men, will hear this account of the Lord of Dharma,
श्राद्धकाले विशेषेण धर्मेशाख्यानमुत्तमम्
Especially at the time of ancestral rites, the supreme account of the Lord of Dharma,
धर्माख्यानमिदं शृण्वन्नपि दूरस्थितः सुधीः
Even one who is far away, if wise, hearing this account of Dharma,
राज्ञ्युवाच अवधेहि धरानाथ कथयामि यथातथम्
The king said: Hear, O Lord of the Earth, I will tell you exactly as it was.
पुरा पुरः श्रीदपत्न्याः श्रीमुख्या ब्रह्मसूनुना
Long ago, in front of the illustrious consort of the Lord of Wealth, the foremost among the beautiful, by the son of Brahma—
चीर्णं चाथ तया देव्या पुत्रोभून्नलकूबरः
Then, having performed austerities by that goddess, Nalakubara was born as her son.
विधिनाप्यत्र संपूज्या गौरी सर्वविधानवित्
Even here, Gauri is to be worshipped according to the prescribed rites by one who knows all rituals.
मार्गशीर्ष तृतीयायां शुक्लायां कलशोपरि
On the third day of the bright fortnight in the month of Margashirsha, upon a pot—
अविच्छिन्नं नवीनं च रजनीरागरंजितम्
Unbroken and new, adorned with night-blooming fragrance and colored,
तस्योपरि शुभं पद्मं रविरश्मिविकासितम्
Upon it, a beautiful lotus, blossoming by the rays of the sun,
विधिं संपूजयेद्भक्त्या रत्नपट्टाबंरादिभिः
One should worship the prescribed form with devotion, using jeweled cloths and other ornaments,
सुगंधैश्चंदनाद्यैश्च कर्पूर मृगनाभिभिः
With fine fragrances such as sandalwood, camphor, and musk,
धूपैरगुरुमुख्यैश्च रम्ये कुसुममंडपे 4.2.83.
With incense, chiefly agarwood, in a delightful pavilion of flowers.
हस्तमात्रमिते कुंडे जातवेदस इत्यृचा
In a pit measuring a hand's breadth, with the Jātavedas hymn,
सहस्रकमलानां च स्मेराणां स्वयमेव हि
Of a thousand lotuses, smiling, by oneself indeed,
दद्यादाचार्यवर्याय सालंकारां सलक्षणाम्
One should give to the distinguished teacher a lotus adorned and marked,
प्रातःस्नात्वा चतुर्थ्यां च संपूज्याचार्यमादृतः
Having bathed in the morning on the fourth day, one should respectfully worship the teacher,
सोपस्करां च तां मृर्तिमाचार्याय निवेदयेत्
One should present that image, complete with its accessories, to the teacher.
नमो विश्वविधानज्ञे विधे विविधकारिणि
Salutations to the knower of the world's order, to the creator who performs various deeds.
सहसं भोजयित्वाथ द्विजानां भक्तिपूर्वकम्
Then, having fed the twice-born with devotion,