The Account of the Brahma-yajna and Other Rites

Verse 1 (devibhagavatam.11.20.1)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । त्रिराचम्य द्विजः पूर्वं द्विर्मार्जनमथाचरेत् । उपस्पृशेत्सव्यपाणिं पादौ च प्रोक्षयेत्ततः ॥

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca trirācamya dvijaḥ pūrvaṁ dvirmārjanamathācaret upaspṛśetsavyapāṇiṁ pādau ca prokṣayettataḥ

Shri Narayana said: Having first sipped water three times, the twice-born should then perform the marjana twice; he should touch his left hand to water and then sprinkle his feet.

Verse 2 (devibhagavatam.11.20.2)

शिरसि चक्षुषि तथा नासायां श्रोत्रदेशके । हृदये च तथा मौलौ प्रोक्षणं सम्यगाचरेत् ॥

śirasi cakṣuṣi tathā nāsāyāṁ śrotradeśake hṛdaye ca tathā maulau prokṣaṇaṁ samyagācaret

He should properly perform the sprinkling upon the head, the eyes, likewise the nose, the region of the ears, the heart, and likewise the crown.

Verse 3 (devibhagavatam.11.20.3)

देशकालौ समुच्चार्य ब्रह्मयज्ञमथाचरेत् । द्वौ दर्भौ दक्षिणे हस्ते वामे त्रीनासने सकृत् ॥

deśakālau samuccārya brahmayajñamathācaret dvau darbhau dakṣiṇe haste vāme trīnāsane sakṛt

Having declared the place and time, he should then perform the Brahma-yajna: two blades of darbha grass in the right hand, and three in the left, upon the seat, once.

Verse 4 (devibhagavatam.11.20.4)

उपवीते शिखायां च पादमूले सकृत्सकृत् । विमुक्तये सर्वपापक्षयार्थं चैवमेव हि ॥

upavīte śikhāyāṁ ca pādamūle sakṛtsakṛt vimuktaye sarvapāpakṣayārthaṁ caivameva hi

He should touch the darbha once each to the sacred thread, to the tuft of hair, and to the base of the feet, for the sake of liberation and the destruction of all sin, in just this manner.

Verse 5 (devibhagavatam.11.20.5)

सूत्रोक्तदेवताप्रीत्यै ब्रह्मयज्ञं करोम्यहम् । गायत्रीं त्रिर्जपेत्पूर्वं चाग्निमीळे ततः परम् ॥

sūtroktadevatāprītyai brahmayajñaṁ karomyaham gāyatrīṁ trirjapetpūrvaṁ cāgnimīḻe tataḥ param

'For the pleasure of the deities declared in the sutra, I perform the Brahma-yajna.' First he should recite the Gayatri three times, and thereafter recite 'agnim īḷe...'

Verse 6 (devibhagavatam.11.20.6)

यदङ्गेति ततः प्रोच्य अग्निर्वै इति कीर्तयेत् । अथ महाव्रतं चैव पन्था एतच्च कीर्तयेत् ॥

yadaṅgeti tataḥ procya agnirvai iti kīrtayet atha mahāvrataṁ caiva panthā etacca kīrtayet

Then, having recited 'yad aṅga...,' he should declare 'agnir vai...'; and then likewise 'mahāvrata,' and this too, 'panthāḥ,' he should declare.

Verse 7 (devibhagavatam.11.20.7)

अथातः संहितायाश्च विदा मघवदित्यपि । महाव्रतस्येति तथा इषे त्वोर्जे इतीव हि ॥

athātaḥ saṁhitāyāśca vidā maghavadityapi mahāvratasyeti tathā iṣe tvorje itīva hi

Then, 'athātaḥ saṁhitāyāḥ,' and 'vidā maghavat...' likewise; 'mahāvratasya' also, and likewise 'iṣe tvorje...'

Verse 8 (devibhagavatam.11.20.8)

अग्न आयाहि चेत्येवं शन्तो देवीरितीति च । अथ तस्य समाम्नायो वृद्धिरादैजितीव हि ॥

agna āyāhi cetyevaṁ śanto devīritīti ca atha tasya samāmnāyo vṛddhirādaijitīva hi

'agna āyāhi...' thus, and likewise 'śaṁ no devīḥ...'; then its grammatical tradition, 'vṛddhir ādaic' likewise.

Verse 9 (devibhagavatam.11.20.9)

अथ शिक्षां प्रवक्ष्यामि पञ्चसंवत्सरेति च । मयरसतजभनेत्येव गौर्ग्मा इत्येव कीर्तयेत् ॥

atha śikṣāṁ pravakṣyāmi pañcasaṁvatsareti ca mayarasatajabhanetyeva gaurgmā ityeva kīrtayet

Then I shall declare the Shiksha text, 'pañca-saṁvatsaraḥ...' and likewise 'ma-ya-ra-sa-ta-ja-bha-na...'; 'gaur gma' should likewise be recited.

Verse 10 (devibhagavatam.11.20.10)

अथातो धर्मजिज्ञासा अथातो ब्रह्म इत्यपि । तच्छंयोरिति च प्रोच्य ब्रह्मणे नम इत्यपि ॥

athāto dharmajijñāsā athāto brahma ityapi tacchaṁyoriti ca procya brahmaṇe nama ityapi

'athāto dharma-jijñāsā' and likewise 'athāto brahma'; and having recited 'tacchaṁ yoḥ...,' likewise 'brahmaṇe namaḥ.'

Verse 11 (devibhagavatam.11.20.11)

तर्पणं चैव देवानां ततः कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणम् । प्रजापतिश्च ब्रह्मा च वेदा देवास्तथर्षयः ॥

tarpaṇaṁ caiva devānāṁ tataḥ kuryātpradakṣiṇam prajāpatiśca brahmā ca vedā devāstatharṣayaḥ

Then he should perform the tarpana of the gods, and circumambulation. Prajapati, and Brahma, and the Vedas, the gods, and likewise the sages —

Verse 12 (devibhagavatam.11.20.12)

सर्वाणि चैव छन्दांसि तथोङ्कारस्तथैव च । वषट्कारो व्याहृतयः सावित्री च ततः परम् ॥

sarvāṇi caiva chandāṁsi tathoṅkārastathaiva ca vaṣaṭkāro vyāhṛtayaḥ sāvitrī ca tataḥ param

and all the Vedic meters, and likewise the syllable Om, the exclamation 'vashat,' the vyahritis, and Savitri, and further,

Verse 13 (devibhagavatam.11.20.13)

गायत्री चैव यज्ञाश्च द्यावापृथिवी इत्यपि । अन्तरिक्षं त्वहोरात्राणि च साङ्ख्या अतः परम् ॥

gāyatrī caiva yajñāśca dyāvāpṛthivī ityapi antarikṣaṁ tvahorātrāṇi ca sāṅkhyā ataḥ param

the Gayatri, and the sacrifices, and likewise Heaven-and-Earth; the atmosphere, and day and night, and the numbers, further,

Verse 14 (devibhagavatam.11.20.14)

सिद्धाः समुद्रा नद्यश्च गिरयश्च ततः परम् । क्षेत्रौषधिवनस्पत्यो गन्धर्वाप्सरसस्तथा ॥

siddhāḥ samudrā nadyaśca girayaśca tataḥ param kṣetrauṣadhivanaspatyo gandharvāpsarasastathā

the Siddhas, the oceans, the rivers, and the mountains, further; the fields, the herbs and forest trees, and likewise the gandharvas and apsaras,

Verse 15 (devibhagavatam.11.20.15)

नागा वयांसि गावश्च साध्या विप्रास्तथैव च । यक्षा रक्षांसि भूतानीत्येवमन्तानि कीर्तयेत् ॥

nāgā vayāṁsi gāvaśca sādhyā viprāstathaiva ca yakṣā rakṣāṁsi bhūtānītyevamantāni kīrtayet

the nagas, the birds, and the cows, the Sadhyas, and likewise the brahmins, the yakshas, the rakshasas, and the elemental beings — thus, ending with these, he should recite the tarpana list.

Verse 16 (devibhagavatam.11.20.16)

अथो निवीती भूत्वा च ऋषीन्सन्तर्पयेदपि । शतर्चिनो माध्यमाश्च गृत्समदस्तथैव च ॥

atho nivītī bhūtvā ca ṛṣīnsantarpayedapi śatarcino mādhyamāśca gṛtsamadastathaiva ca

Then, having assumed the nivita mode, he should also offer libation to the sages: the Shatarchins, the Madhyamas, and likewise Gritsamada,

Verse 17 (devibhagavatam.11.20.17)

विश्वामित्रो वामदेवोऽत्रिर्भरद्वाज एव च । वसिष्ठश्च प्रगाथश्च पावमान्यस्ततः परम् ॥

viśvāmitro vāmadevo'trirbharadvāja eva ca vasiṣṭhaśca pragāthaśca pāvamānyastataḥ param

Vishvamitra, Vamadeva, Atri, and likewise Bharadvaja, Vasishtha, and Pragatha, and the Pavamani sages, further,

Verse 18 (devibhagavatam.11.20.18)

क्षुद्रसूक्ता महासूक्ताः सनकश्च सनन्दनः । सनातनस्तथैवात्र सनत्कुमार एव च ॥

kṣudrasūktā mahāsūktāḥ sanakaśca sanandanaḥ sanātanastathaivātra sanatkumāra eva ca

the Kshudra-suktas and Maha-suktas, and Sanaka, and Sanandana, and likewise here Sanatana, and Sanatkumara,

Verse 19 (devibhagavatam.11.20.19)

कपिलासुरिनामानौ वोहलिः पञ्चशीर्षकः । प्राचीनावीतिना तच्च कर्तव्यमथ तर्पणम् ॥

kapilāsurināmānau vohaliḥ pañcaśīrṣakaḥ prācīnāvītinā tacca kartavyamatha tarpaṇam

Kapila and Asuri by name, Vohali, and Pancha-shirsha — this tarpana should then be performed with the sacred thread over the right shoulder.

Verse 20 (devibhagavatam.11.20.20)

सुमन्तुर्जैमिनिर्वैशम्पायनः पैलसूत्रयुक् । भाष्यभारतपूर्वं च महाभारत इत्यपि ॥

sumanturjaiminirvaiśampāyanaḥ pailasūtrayuk bhāṣyabhāratapūrvaṁ ca mahābhārata ityapi

Sumantu, Jaimini, Vaishampayana, and Paila together with the sutras; the Bhashya, and before that the Bharata, and likewise the Mahabharata —

Verse 21 (devibhagavatam.11.20.21)

धर्माचार्या इमे सर्वे तृप्यन्त्विति च कीर्तयेत् । जानन्ति बाहविगार्ग्यगौतमाश्चैव शाकलः ॥

dharmācāryā ime sarve tṛpyantviti ca kīrtayet jānanti bāhavigārgyagautamāścaiva śākalaḥ

'May all these teachers of dharma be satisfied' — thus he should declare. The knowers Bahvrichas, Gargya, and the Gautamas, and likewise Shakalya,

Verse 22 (devibhagavatam.11.20.22)

बाभ्रव्यमाण्डव्ययुतोमाण्डूकेयस्ततः परम् । गार्गी वाचक्नवी चैव वडवा प्रातिथेयिका ॥

bābhravyamāṇḍavyayutomāṇḍūkeyastataḥ param gārgī vācaknavī caiva vaḍavā prātitheyikā

Babhravya, together with Mandavya, and Mandukeya, further; Gargi Vachaknavi, and likewise Vadava Pratitheyi,

Verse 23 (devibhagavatam.11.20.23)

सुलभायुक्तमैत्रेयी कहोलश्च ततः परम् । कौषीतकं महाकौषीतकं वै तर्पयेत्ततः ॥

sulabhāyuktamaitreyī kaholaśca tataḥ param kauṣītakaṁ mahākauṣītakaṁ vai tarpayettataḥ

Sulabha together with Maitreyi, and Kahola, further — one should then offer libation to Kaushitaka and Maha-Kaushitaka,

Verse 24 (devibhagavatam.11.20.24)

भारद्वाजं च पैङ्ग्यं च महापैङ्ग्यं सुयज्ञकम् । साङ्ख्यायनमैतरेयं महैतरेयमेव च ॥

bhāradvājaṁ ca paiṅgyaṁ ca mahāpaiṅgyaṁ suyajñakam sāṅkhyāyanamaitareyaṁ mahaitareyameva ca

to Bharadvaja, and Paingya, and Maha-Paingya, and Suyajna, to Sankhyayana, Aitareya, and likewise Maha-Aitareya,

Verse 25 (devibhagavatam.11.20.25)

बाष्कलं शाकलं चैव सुजातवक्त्रमेव च । औदवाहिं च सौजामिं शौनकं चाश्वलायनम् ॥

bāṣkalaṁ śākalaṁ caiva sujātavaktrameva ca audavāhiṁ ca saujāmiṁ śaunakaṁ cāśvalāyanam

to Bashkala, and Shakala, and likewise Sujatavaktra, to Audavahi, and Saujami, and Shaunaka, and Ashvalayana,

Verse 26 (devibhagavatam.11.20.26)

ये चान्ये सर्व आचार्यास्ते सर्वे तृप्तिमाप्नुयुः । ये के चास्मत्कुले जाता अपुत्रा गोत्रिणो मृताः ॥

ye cānye sarva ācāryāste sarve tṛptimāpnuyuḥ ye ke cāsmatkule jātā aputrā gotriṇo mṛtāḥ

and whatever other teachers there be, may all of them attain satisfaction. Whoever in our lineage were born, and, being of our gotra, died without sons —

Verse 27 (devibhagavatam.11.20.27)

ते गृह्णन्तु मया दत्तं वस्त्रनिष्पीडनोदकम् । एवं ते ब्रह्मयज्ञस्य विधिरुक्तो महामुने ॥

te gṛhṇantu mayā dattaṁ vastraniṣpīḍanodakam evaṁ te brahmayajñasya vidhirukto mahāmune

may they accept this water, wrung from cloth, offered by me. Thus, O great sage, has the procedure of the Brahma-yajna been declared to you.

Verse 28 (devibhagavatam.11.20.28)

यश्चायं कुरुते ब्रह्मयज्ञस्य विधिमुत्तमम् । सर्ववेदाङ्गपाठस्य फलमाप्नोति साधकः ॥

yaścāyaṁ kurute brahmayajñasya vidhimuttamam sarvavedāṅgapāṭhasya phalamāpnoti sādhakaḥ

And whoever performs this excellent procedure of the Brahma-yajna, that practitioner obtains the fruit of the recitation of all the Vedangas.

Verse 29 (devibhagavatam.11.20.29)

वैश्वदेवं ततः कुर्यान्नित्यश्राद्धं तथैव च । अतिथिभ्योऽन्नदानं च नित्यमेव समाचरेत् ॥

vaiśvadevaṁ tataḥ kuryānnityaśrāddhaṁ tathaiva ca atithibhyo'nnadānaṁ ca nityameva samācaret

He should then perform the Vaishvadeva rite, and likewise the daily shraddha; he should constantly give food to guests as well.

Verse 30 (devibhagavatam.11.20.30)

गोग्रासं च ततो दत्त्वा भुञ्जीत ब्राह्मणैः सह । अह्नस्तु पञ्चमे भागे प्रकुर्यादेतदुत्तमम् ॥

gogrāsaṁ ca tato dattvā bhuñjīta brāhmaṇaiḥ saha ahnastu pañcame bhāge prakuryādetaduttamam

Having then given a morsel to a cow, he should eat together with brahmins; he should perform this excellent rite in the fifth portion of the day.

Verse 31 (devibhagavatam.11.20.31)

इतिहासपुराणाद्यैः षष्ठसप्तमकौ नयेत् । अष्टमे लोकयात्रा तु बहिः सन्ध्यां ततः पुनः ॥

itihāsapurāṇādyaiḥ ṣaṣṭhasaptamakau nayet aṣṭame lokayātrā tu bahiḥ sandhyāṁ tataḥ punaḥ

The sixth and seventh portions of the day he should pass with the Itihasas, Puranas, and the like; in the eighth, worldly affairs outside, and then again the sandhya.

Verse 32 (devibhagavatam.11.20.32)

अथ सायन्तनीं सन्ध्यां प्रवक्ष्यामि महामुने । यदनुष्ठानमात्रेण महामाया प्रसीदति ॥

atha sāyantanīṁ sandhyāṁ pravakṣyāmi mahāmune yadanuṣṭhānamātreṇa mahāmāyā prasīdati

Now, O great sage, I shall declare the evening sandhya, by the mere performance of which Mahamaya is pleased.

Verse 33 (devibhagavatam.11.20.33)

आचम्य प्राणानायम्य साधकः स्थिरमानसः । बद्धपद्मासनो योगी सायङ्काले स्थिरो भवेत् ॥

ācamya prāṇānāyamya sādhakaḥ sthiramānasaḥ baddhapadmāsano yogī sāyaṅkāle sthiro bhavet

Having sipped water and restrained the breath, the practitioner, steady of mind, the yogi seated in the bound lotus posture, should be steady at evening.

Verse 34 (devibhagavatam.11.20.34)

श्रुतिस्मृत्यादिकर्मादौ सगर्भः प्राणसंयमः । अगर्भो ध्यानमात्रं तु स चामन्त्रः प्रकीर्तितः ॥

śrutismṛtyādikarmādau sagarbhaḥ prāṇasaṁyamaḥ agarbho dhyānamātraṁ tu sa cāmantraḥ prakīrtitaḥ

In rites beginning with those enjoined by Shruti and Smriti, the restraint of breath accompanied by mantra is called 'sagarbha'; that consisting of meditation alone, without mantra, is declared to be 'agarbha.'

Verse 35 (devibhagavatam.11.20.35)

भूतशुद्।ह्ध्यादिकं कृत्वा नान्यथा कर्म कीर्तितम् । सलक्षो देवतां ध्यात्वा पूरकुम्भकरेचकैः ॥

bhūtaśud hdhyādikaṁ kṛtvā nānyathā karma kīrtitam salakṣo devatāṁ dhyātvā pūrakumbhakarecakaiḥ

Having performed the purification of the elements and the like — no rite is declared valid otherwise — having meditated upon the deity with clear intent, through inhalation, retention, and exhalation,

Verse 36 (devibhagavatam.11.20.36)

ध्यानं प्रकुर्यात्सन्ध्यायां सायङ्काले विचक्षणः । वृद्धां सरस्वतीं देवीं कृष्णाङ्गीं कृष्णवाससम् ॥

dhyānaṁ prakuryātsandhyāyāṁ sāyaṅkāle vicakṣaṇaḥ vṛddhāṁ sarasvatīṁ devīṁ kṛṣṇāṅgīṁ kṛṣṇavāsasam

the discerning one should perform meditation at the evening sandhya — on the goddess Sarasvati as the Elder, dark-limbed, dark-garmented,

Verse 37 (devibhagavatam.11.20.37)

शङ्खचक्रगदापद्महस्तां गरुडवाहनाम् । नानारत्नलसद्भूषां क्वणन्मञ्जीरमेखलाम् ॥

śaṅkhacakragadāpadmahastāṁ garuḍavāhanām nānāratnalasadbhūṣāṁ kvaṇanmañjīramekhalām

holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus in her hands, mounted on Garuda, adorned with ornaments gleaming with various jewels, with anklets and a girdle that tinkle,

Verse 38 (devibhagavatam.11.20.38)

अनर्घ्यरत्नमुकुटां तारहारावलीयुताम् । ताटङ्कबद्धमाणिक्यकान्तिशोभिकपोलकाम् ॥

anarghyaratnamukuṭāṁ tārahārāvalīyutām tāṭaṅkabaddhamāṇikyakāntiśobhikapolakām

with a crown of priceless jewels, adorned with rows of pearl necklaces, her cheeks radiant with the luster of ruby earrings,

Verse 39 (devibhagavatam.11.20.39)

पीताम्बरधरां देवीं सच्चिदानन्दरूपिणीम् । सामवेदेन सहितां संयुतां सत्त्ववर्त्मना ॥

pītāmbaradharāṁ devīṁ saccidānandarūpiṇīm sāmavedena sahitāṁ saṁyutāṁ sattvavartmanā

the Goddess wearing yellow garments, whose form is existence-consciousness-bliss, associated with the Sama Veda, and joined with the path of sattva,

Verse 40 (devibhagavatam.11.20.40)

व्यवस्थितां च स्वर्लोके आदित्यपय्हगामिनीम् । आवाहयाम्यहं देवीमायान्तीं सूर्यमण्डलात् ॥

vyavasthitāṁ ca svarloke ādityapayhagāminīm āvāhayāmyahaṁ devīmāyāntīṁ sūryamaṇḍalāt

established in Svarloka, moving along the sun's path — I invoke this Goddess, as she comes from the orb of the sun.

Verse 41 (devibhagavatam.11.20.41)

एवं ध्यात्वा च तां देवीं सन्ध्यासङ्कल्पमाचरेत् । आपो हि ष्ठेति मन्त्रेण अग्निश्चेति तथैव च ॥

evaṁ dhyātvā ca tāṁ devīṁ sandhyāsaṅkalpamācaret āpo hi ṣṭheti mantreṇa agniśceti tathaiva ca

Having thus meditated on that Goddess, one should perform the ritual resolve for the sandhya, with the mantra 'āpo hi ṣṭhā...' and likewise 'agniśca...'

Verse 42 (devibhagavatam.11.20.42)

विदध्यादाचमनकं शेषं पूर्ववदीरितम् । गायत्रीमन्त्रमुक्च्चार्य श्रीनारायणप्रीतये ॥

vidadhyādācamanakaṁ śeṣaṁ pūrvavadīritam gāyatrīmantramukccārya śrīnārāyaṇaprītaye

He should perform the achamana; the rest is as declared before. Having uttered the Gayatri mantra, for the pleasure of Shri Narayana,

Verse 43 (devibhagavatam.11.20.43)

अर्घ्यं दद्याच्च सूर्याय साधकः शुद्धमानसः । उभौ पादौ समौ कृत्वा हस्ते धूत्वा जलाञ्जलिम् ॥

arghyaṁ dadyācca sūryāya sādhakaḥ śuddhamānasaḥ ubhau pādau samau kṛtvā haste dhūtvā jalāñjalim

the practitioner, pure of mind, should offer the arghya to the sun; having placed both feet evenly, and having taken a handful of water in the hand,

Verse 44 (devibhagavatam.11.20.44)

देवं ध्यात्वा मण्डलस्थं क्षिपेदर्घ्यं ततः क्रमात् । अर्घ्यं दद्यात्तु यो नीरे मूढात्मा ज्ञानवर्जितः ॥

devaṁ dhyātvā maṇḍalasthaṁ kṣipedarghyaṁ tataḥ kramāt arghyaṁ dadyāttu yo nīre mūḍhātmā jñānavarjitaḥ

having meditated on the deity established in the orb, he should then cast the arghya in due order. But whoever offers the arghya while standing in water, being deluded and devoid of knowledge —

Verse 45 (devibhagavatam.11.20.45)

उल्लङ्घ्य स्मृतिमन्त्रांश्च प्रायश्चित्ती भवेद्द्विजः । ततः सूर्यमुपस्थायाप्यसावादित्यमन्त्रतः ॥

ullaṅghya smṛtimantrāṁśca prāyaścittī bhaveddvijaḥ tataḥ sūryamupasthāyāpyasāvādityamantrataḥ

having transgressed the mantras declared in the Smriti, that twice-born becomes liable for expiation. Then, having venerated the sun with the mantra 'asāv āditya...'

Verse 46 (devibhagavatam.11.20.46)

गायत्र्याश्च जपं कुर्यादुपविश्य ततो बृसीम् । सहस्रं वा तदर्धं वा श्रीदेवीध्यानपूर्वकम् ॥

gāyatryāśca japaṁ kuryādupaviśya tato bṛsīm sahasraṁ vā tadardhaṁ vā śrīdevīdhyānapūrvakam

one should then sit upon a seat and perform the recitation of the Gayatri, a thousand times or half that, preceded by meditation on the Blessed Goddess.

Verse 47 (devibhagavatam.11.20.47)

यथा प्रातः पुनस्तद्वदुपस्थानादिकं चरेत् । सायं सन्ध्यातर्पणे च क्रमेण परिकीर्तयेत् ॥

yathā prātaḥ punastadvadupasthānādikaṁ caret sāyaṁ sandhyātarpaṇe ca krameṇa parikīrtayet

Just as in the morning, one should likewise again perform the veneration and the rest; in the tarpana of the evening sandhya, one should declare the following in order.

Verse 48 (devibhagavatam.11.20.48)

वसिष्ठो ऋषिरेवात्र सरस्वत्याः प्रकीर्तितः । देवता विष्णुरूपा सा छन्दश्चैव सरस्वती ॥

vasiṣṭho ṛṣirevātra sarasvatyāḥ prakīrtitaḥ devatā viṣṇurūpā sā chandaścaiva sarasvatī

Here, Vasishtha is declared to be the sage of Sarasvati; her deity is that form of Vishnu, and her meter is Sarasvati herself.

Verse 49 (devibhagavatam.11.20.49)

सायङ्कालीनसन्ध्यायास्तर्पणे विनियोगकः । स्वरित्युक्त्वा च पुरुषं सामवेदं तथैव च ॥

sāyaṅkālīnasandhyāyāstarpaṇe viniyogakaḥ svarityuktvā ca puruṣaṁ sāmavedaṁ tathaiva ca

Its application is in the tarpana of the evening sandhya. Having said 'Svah,' one offers libation to the Purusha, and likewise to the Sama Veda,

Verse 50 (devibhagavatam.11.20.50)

मण्डलं चेति सम्प्रोच्य हिरण्यगर्भकं तथा । तथैव परमात्मानं ततोऽपि च सरस्वतीम् ॥

maṇḍalaṁ ceti samprocya hiraṇyagarbhakaṁ tathā tathaiva paramātmānaṁ tato'pi ca sarasvatīm

and, having declared the orb likewise, to Hiranyagarbha, and likewise to the Supreme Self, and then also to Sarasvati,

Verse 51 (devibhagavatam.11.20.51)

वेदमातरमेवात्र सङ्कृतिं तद्वदेव च । सन्ध्यां वृद्धां तथा विष्णुरूपिणीमुषसीं तथा ॥

vedamātaramevātra saṅkṛtiṁ tadvadeva ca sandhyāṁ vṛddhāṁ tathā viṣṇurūpiṇīmuṣasīṁ tathā

the Mother of the Vedas here, and likewise Sankriti; to the Sandhya as the Elder, likewise in the form of Vishnu, and to Ushas likewise,

Verse 52 (devibhagavatam.11.20.52)

निर्मृजीं च तथा सर्वसिद्धीनां कारिणीं तथा । सर्वमन्त्राधिपतिकां भूर्भुवः स्वश्च पूरुषम् ॥

nirmṛjīṁ ca tathā sarvasiddhīnāṁ kāriṇīṁ tathā sarvamantrādhipatikāṁ bhūrbhuvaḥ svaśca pūruṣam

and to Nirmrija, likewise the bestower of all accomplishments, the sovereign mistress of all mantras — 'Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, to the Purusha.'

Verse 53 (devibhagavatam.11.20.53)

इत्येवं तर्पणं कार्यं सन्ध्यायाः श्रुतिसम्मतम् । सायं सन्ध्याविधानं च कथितं पापनाशनम् ॥

ityevaṁ tarpaṇaṁ kāryaṁ sandhyāyāḥ śrutisammatam sāyaṁ sandhyāvidhānaṁ ca kathitaṁ pāpanāśanam

Thus should the tarpana of the sandhya, sanctioned by the Shruti, be performed. The procedure of the evening sandhya, which destroys sin, has thus been declared,

Verse 54 (devibhagavatam.11.20.54)

सर्वदुःखहरं व्याधिनाशकं मोक्षदं तथा । सदाचारेषु सन्ध्यायाः प्राधान्यं मुनिपुङ्गव । सन्ध्याचरणतो देवी भक्ताभीष्टं प्रयच्छति ॥

sarvaduḥkhaharaṁ vyādhināśakaṁ mokṣadaṁ tathā sadācāreṣu sandhyāyāḥ prādhānyaṁ munipuṅgava sandhyācaraṇato devī bhaktābhīṣṭaṁ prayacchati

which removes all sorrow, destroys disease, and likewise bestows liberation. O bull among sages, among the rules of right conduct, the sandhya holds the foremost place; through the performance of the sandhya, the Goddess grants the devotee's heart's desire.