Sacrifice and the Worship of the Gods

Verse 1 (13.237.1)

भगवन्देवदेवेश विशिष्टं यज्ञमुच्यते । लौकिकं वैदिकं चैव तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि ॥

bhagavandevadeveśa viśiṣṭaṃ yajñamucyate | laukikaṃ vaidikaṃ caiva tanme śaṃsitumarhasi

“Blessed lord, chief of the gods, sacrifice is called the most excellent of all. Tell me of it, both the worldly kind and the Vedic.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3425-3426. Speaker: the page prints “उमोवाच” (उमा उवाच).

Verse 2 (13.237.2)

देवतानां तु पूजा या यज्ञेष्वेव समाहिता । यज्ञा वेदेष्वधीताश्च वेदा ब्राह्मणसंयुताः ॥

devatānāṃ tu pūjā yā yajñeṣveva samāhitā | yajñā vedeṣvadhītāśca vedā brāhmaṇasaṃyutāḥ

“The worship of the gods is contained in sacrifices alone; sacrifices are studied in the Vedas, and the Vedas are bound up with the brahmins.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3427-3428.

Verse 3 (13.237.3)

इदं तु सकलं दिव्यं दिवि वा भुवि वा प्रिये । यज्ञार्थं विद्धि तत्सृष्टं लोकानां हितकाम्यया ॥

idaṃ tu sakalaṃ divyaṃ divi vā bhuvi vā priye | yajñārthaṃ viddhi tatsṛṣṭaṃ lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā

“Know, dear one, that all this that is divine, whether in heaven or on earth, was created for sacrifice, out of a wish for the good of the worlds.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3429-3430.

Verse 4 (13.237.4)

एवं विज्ञाय तत्कर्ता सदारः सततं द्विजः । प्रेत्यभावे लभेल्लोकान्ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥

evaṃ vijñāya tatkartā sadāraḥ satataṃ dvijaḥ | pretyabhāve labhellokānbrahmakarmasamādhinā

“Knowing this, the twice-born who performs it, together with his wife and always, gains worlds after death through his devotion to the sacred work.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3431-3432.

Verse 5 (13.237.5)

ब्राह्मणेष्वेव तद्ब्रह्म नित्यं देवि समाहितम् । तस्माद्विप्रैर्यथाशास्त्रं विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥

brāhmaṇeṣveva tadbrahma nityaṃ devi samāhitam | tasmādviprairyathāśāstraṃ vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

“That sacred knowledge abides always in the brahmins alone, goddess. Therefore the brahmins, according to the scriptures, by a rite seen in the rule,”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3433-3434.

Verse 6 (13.237.6)

यज्ञकर्म कृतं सर्वं देवता अभितर्पयेत् । ब्राह्मणाः क्षत्रियाश्चैव यज्ञार्थं प्रायशः स्मृताः ॥

yajñakarma kṛtaṃ sarvaṃ devatā abhitarpayet | brāhmaṇāḥ kṣatriyāścaiva yajñārthaṃ prāyaśaḥ smṛtāḥ

“whatever sacrificial rite is performed, wholly satisfies the gods. Brahmins and kshatriyas are for the most part held to be those for sacrifice.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3435-3436. Corrected यज्ञकर्मि → यज्ञकर्म (misprint in Wikisource; Appendix I yajñakarma).

Verse 7 (13.237.7)

अग्निष्टोमादिभिर्यज्ञैर्वेदेषु परिकल्पितैः । सुशुद्धैर्यजमानैश्च ऋत्विग्भिश्च यथाविधिः । शुद्धैर्द्रव्योपकरणैर्यष्टव्यमिति निश्चयः ॥

agniṣṭomādibhiryajñairvedeṣu parikalpitaiḥ | suśuddhairyajamānaiśca ṛtvigbhiśca yathāvidhiḥ | śuddhairdravyopakaraṇairyaṣṭavyamiti niścayaḥ

“With sacrifices like the Agnishtoma laid down in the Vedas, with perfectly pure sacrificers and priests, in due form, and with pure materials and implements, one must sacrifice; this is the settled rule.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3437-3439. Three lines, as the page prints them. Corrected यजमानैस्च → यजमानैश्च (misprint in Wikisource; Appendix I yajamānaiś ca).

Verse 8 (13.237.8)

तथा कृतेषु यज्ञेषु देवानां तोषणं भवेत् । तुष्टेषु सर्वदेवेषु यज्वा यज्ञफलं लभेत् ॥

tathā kṛteṣu yajñeṣu devānāṃ toṣaṇaṃ bhavet | tuṣṭeṣu sarvadeveṣu yajvā yajñaphalaṃ labhet

“When sacrifices are performed in this way, the gods are pleased; and when all the gods are pleased, the sacrificer gains the fruit of the sacrifice.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3440-3441.

Verse 9 (13.237.9)

देवाः सन्तोषिता यज्ञैर्लोकान्संवर्धयन्त्युत । उभयोर्लोकयोर्भूतिर्देवि यज्ञे प्रदृश्यते ॥

devāḥ santoṣitā yajñairlokānsaṃvardhayantyuta | ubhayorlokayorbhūtirdevi yajñe pradṛśyate

“Gratified by sacrifices, the gods nourish the worlds. Prosperity in both worlds, goddess, is seen to come from sacrifice.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3442-3443.

Verse 10 (13.237.10)

तस्माद्यज्वा दिवं गत्वा अमरैः सह मोदते । नास्ति यज्ञसमं दानं नास्ति यज्ञसमो निधिः ॥

tasmādyajvā divaṃ gatvā amaraiḥ saha modate | nāsti yajñasamaṃ dānaṃ nāsti yajñasamo nidhiḥ

“Therefore the sacrificer goes to heaven and rejoices with the immortals. There is no gift equal to sacrifice, and no treasure equal to sacrifice.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3444-3445.

Verse 11 (13.237.11)

सर्वधर्मसमुद्देशो देवि यज्ञे समाहितः । एषा यज्ञकृता पूजा लौकिकीमपरां शृणु ॥

sarvadharmasamuddeśo devi yajñe samāhitaḥ | eṣā yajñakṛtā pūjā laukikīmaparāṃ śṛṇu

“The whole of dharma is gathered into sacrifice, goddess. This is the worship performed through sacrifice; now hear of the other, the worldly kind.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3446-3447.

Verse 12 (13.237.12)

देवसत्कारमुद्दिश्य क्रियते लौकिकोत्सवः ॥

devasatkāramuddiśya kriyate laukikotsavaḥ

“A worldly festival is held with the aim of honouring the gods.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3448. One line only, as the page prints it.

Verse 13 (13.237.13)

देवगोष्ठेऽधिसंस्कृत्य चोत्सवं यः करोति वै । यागान्देवोपहारांश्च शुचिर्भूत्वा यथाविधि । देवान्सन्तोषयित्वा स देवि धर्ममवाप्नुयात् ॥

devagoṣṭhe'dhisaṃskṛtya cotsavaṃ yaḥ karoti vai | yāgāndevopahārāṃśca śucirbhūtvā yathāvidhi | devānsantoṣayitvā sa devi dharmamavāpnuyāt

“One who, after preparing the gods’ assembly-hall, holds a festival there, and who, pure, performs sacrifices and offerings to the gods according to rule, having pleased the gods, goddess, gains dharma.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3449-3451. Three lines, as the page prints them.

Verse 14 (13.237.14)

गन्धमाल्यैश्च विविधैः परमान्नेन धूपनैः । बह्वीभिः स्तुतिभिश्चैव स्तुवद्भिः प्रयतैर्नरैः ॥

gandhamālyaiśca vividhaiḥ paramānnena dhūpanaiḥ | bahvībhiḥ stutibhiścaiva stuvadbhiḥ prayatairnaraiḥ

“With fragrances and garlands of many kinds, with the best food and incense, and with many hymns of praise by self-controlled men,”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3452-3453.

Verse 15 (13.237.15)

नृत्तैर्वाद्यैश्च गान्धर्वैरन्यैर्दृष्टिविलोभनैः । देवसत्कारमुद्दिश्य कुर्वते ये नरा भुवि ॥

nṛttairvādyaiśca gāndharvairanyairdṛṣṭivilobhanaiḥ | devasatkāramuddiśya kurvate ye narā bhuvi

“with dances, instrumental music and songs, and other things that charm the eye — those men on earth who do all this in honour of the gods”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3454-3455.

Verse 16 (13.237.16)

तेषां भक्तिकृतेनैव सत्कारेणैव पूजिताः । तेनैव तोषं संयान्ति देवि देवास्त्रिविष्टपे ॥

teṣāṃ bhaktikṛtenaiva satkāreṇaiva pūjitāḥ | tenaiva toṣaṃ saṃyānti devi devāstriviṣṭape

“the gods in heaven, honoured by that very homage, made out of their devotion, are pleased by it, goddess.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3456-3457.

Verse 17 (13.237.17)

मानुषैश्चोपकारैर्वा शुचिभिः सत्परायणैः । ब्रह्मचर्यपरैरेतत्कृतं धर्मफलं लभेत् ॥

mānuṣaiścopakārairvā śucibhiḥ satparāyaṇaiḥ | brahmacaryaparairetatkṛtaṃ dharmaphalaṃ labhet

“Also through human services rendered by pure men devoted to the good and given to chastity, what is done by them yields the fruit of dharma.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3458-3459.

Verse 18 (13.237.18)

केवलैः स्तुतिभिर्देवि गन्धमाल्यसमाहितैः । प्रयतैः शुद्धगात्रैस्तु शुद्धदेशे सुपूजिताः । सन्तोषं यान्ति ते देवा भक्तैः सम्पूजितास्तथा ॥

kevalaiḥ stutibhirdevi gandhamālyasamāhitaiḥ | prayataiḥ śuddhagātraistu śuddhadeśe supūjitāḥ | santoṣaṃ yānti te devā bhaktaiḥ sampūjitāstathā

“Gods are well worshipped in a pure place with praise alone, goddess, joined with perfumes and garlands, by self-controlled men with pure bodies; honoured thus by their devotees, those gods are pleased.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3460-3462. Three lines, as the page prints them.

Verse 19 (13.237.19)

देवान्सन्तोषयित्वैव देवि धर्ममवाप्नुयात् ॥

devānsantoṣayitvaiva devi dharmamavāpnuyāt

“Only by pleasing the gods, goddess, does one gain dharma.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3463. One line only, as the page prints it.

Verse 20 (13.237.20)

त्रिविष्टपस्था वै भूमौ देवा मानुषचेष्टितम् । कथं ज्ञास्यन्ति विधिवत्तन्मे शंसितुमर्हसि ॥

triviṣṭapasthā vai bhūmau devā mānuṣaceṣṭitam | kathaṃ jñāsyanti vidhivattanme śaṃsitumarhasi

“The gods dwell in heaven, while human actions are done on earth. How will they know them properly? Please tell me that.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3464-3465.

Verse 21 (13.237.21)

तदहं ते प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा तैर्विद्यते प्रिये । प्राणिनां तु शरीरेषु अन्तरात्मा व्यवस्थितः ॥

tadahaṃ te pravakṣyāmi yathā tairvidyate priye | prāṇināṃ tu śarīreṣu antarātmā vyavasthitaḥ

“I shall tell you how they come to know it, dear one. In the bodies of living beings the inner self is established.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3466-3467. Separated the run-together तेप्रवक्ष्यामि → ते प्रवक्ष्यामि (missing space in Wikisource; Appendix I tad ahaṃ te pravakṣyāmi).

Verse 22 (13.237.22)

आत्मानं परमं देवमिति विद्धि शुभेक्षणे । आत्मा मनोव्यवस्थानात्सर्वं वेत्ति शुभाशुभम् ॥

ātmānaṃ paramaṃ devamiti viddhi śubhekṣaṇe | ātmā manovyavasthānātsarvaṃ vetti śubhāśubham

“Know, fair-eyed one, that the self is the supreme god. Because it is established in the mind, the self knows everything, good and bad.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3468-3469.

Verse 23 (13.237.23)

आत्मैव देवास्तद्विद्युरव्यग्रमनसा कृतम् । सतां मनोव्यवस्थानाच्छुभं भवति वै नृणाम् ॥

ātmaiva devāstadvidyuravyagramanasā kṛtam | satāṃ manovyavasthānācchubhaṃ bhavati vai nṛṇām

“The gods know through the self alone what has been done with an undistracted mind. For good people, goodness comes to men from the steadiness of the mind.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3470-3471.

Verse 24 (13.237.24)

तस्माद्देवाभिसम्पूजा ब्राह्मणानां तथैव च । यज्ञाश्च धर्मकार्याणि गुरुपूजा च शोभने ॥

tasmāddevābhisampūjā brāhmaṇānāṃ tathaiva ca | yajñāśca dharmakāryāṇi gurupūjā ca śobhane

“Therefore worship of the gods and of the brahmins, and likewise sacrifices, acts of dharma and reverence for the teacher, lovely one,”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3472-3473. Corrected देवाऽभिसम्पूज्या → देवाभिसम्पूजा (misprint in Wikisource; Appendix I devābhisaṃpūjā). The sentence continues in verse 25.

Verse 25 (13.237.25)

शुद्धगात्रैर्व्रतयुतैस्तन्मयैस्तत्परायणैः । एवं व्यवस्थितैर्नित्यं कर्तव्यमिति निश्चयः ॥

śuddhagātrairvratayutaistanmayaistatparāyaṇaiḥ | evaṃ vyavasthitairnityaṃ kartavyamiti niścayaḥ

“must always be done by those who are pure in body, firm in their vows, absorbed in it and devoted to it, and so steadily established; this is the settled rule.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3474-3475.

Verse 26 (13.237.26)

एवं कृत्वा शुभाकाङ्क्षी परत्रेह च मोदते । अन्यथा मन आविश्य कृतं न फलति प्रिये । ऋतेऽपि तु मनो देवि अशुभं फलति ध्रुवम् ॥

evaṃ kṛtvā śubhākāṅkṣī paratreha ca modate | anyathā mana āviśya kṛtaṃ na phalati priye | ṛte'pi tu mano devi aśubhaṃ phalati dhruvam

“One who does so, wishing for good, rejoices both in the next world and here. Done otherwise, with the mind elsewhere, it bears no fruit, dear one; and even without the deed, goddess, an evil thought surely bears its fruit.”

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition proper (vulgate recension); parallel text in Appendix I No. 15 (after 13.134.57d), lines 3476-3478. Three lines, as the page prints them.